SC oral arguments delay JBC vote on CJ nominees

MANILA, Philippines - The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Tuesday decided to move the deliberations on the shortlisting of the nominees for chief justice to Monday next week.

This, after the Supreme Court (SC) scheduled on Thursday morning the oral arguments on the motion for reconsideration filed by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. on the court's decision resolution limiting the participation of Congress in the JBC.

The JBC was supposed to start the deliberations on the same day.

JBC member representing the academe, Atty. Jose Mejia, said the panel has moved the deliberations to another date to give ample time for the High court to resolve the questions on the JBC composition.

Tupas, earlier, argued that there should be both a member from the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Aside from the representatives from both Houses of Congress, there has been questions on the replacement of the justice secretary, who has been one of the nominees for the next Chief Justice.

The SC said that the oral arguments will center on the issue of whether Congress is entitled to one or two representatives in the JBC.

The oral arguments are aimed at resolving the dispute between the JBC and the lawmakers, particularly on the representation of the Congress in the JBC.

In a press conference, SC Acting Public Information Office (PIO) Chief and Spokesperson Atty. Maria Victoria Gleoresty Guerra said the SC en banc issued a resolution on the petition filed by former Solicitor General Francisco I. Chavez against the JBC questioning the composition of the JBC.

Guerra said the SC issued the resolution acting on the following pleadings:

-- Motion for Reconsideration dated July 23, 2012 filed by the Office of the Solicitor General for respondents Senator Francis Joseph G. Escudero and Congressman Niel C. Tupas, Jr.; and

-- Manifestation with Motion to Adopt Petitioner's Reply as Opposition to Motion for Reconsideration dated July 25, 2012 filed by petitioner Francisco I. Chavez, in proprio persona and by counsel.

SC Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio, and Associate Justices Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo D. Brion and Maria Lourdes Aranal Sereno did not participate part in the SC en banc deliberations on Tuesday.

Associate Justice Jose C. Mendoza was on leave.

Guerra said oral arguments will be open to the public but there will be no live television and radio coverage.

She added that there is no prohibition on the part of the JBC to come up with a shortlist of nominees for the post of Chief Justice on Monday (August 6), which will be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III. - Dennis Carcamo