Noy starts screening chief justice bets

Manila, Philippines -  President Aquino has personally interviewed two of the eight nominees in the shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to replace former chief justice Renato Corona, who was convicted by the Senate impeachment court last May 27.

The 90-day period for the appointment of a new chief justice will expire on Aug. 27.

Sources disclosed that former San Juan congressman Ronaldo Zamora, a former colleague of Aquino in the House of Representatives, had been invited to Malacañang, along with Supreme Court Justice Arturo Brion.

“So far, only the two have been invited. There were others but we’re not very sure if they were indeed invited by the President,” the source said.

Before his SC post, Brion served as labor secretary of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The other six nominees in the JBC shortlist are acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, fellow justices Roberto Abad, Teresita de Castro, Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza and former Ateneo law dean Cesar Villanueva.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, told reporters that “they don’t have that information yet,” reiterating that such interviews are confidential. 

“As a standard procedure, he (Aquino) takes the opportunity to meet with the applicants. But we don’t know yet, because of the situation right now, whether those interviews will take place,” Lacierda said.

He also gave assurance that Aquino would definitely make a decision on Aug. 27, shooting down speculations that the appointment might come earlier.

Aquino had earlier made known his displeasure over the exclusion of his preferred chief justice nominee, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who was disqualified due to two disbarment complaints filed against her.

But he admitted that he would choose the next chief justice from the JBC shortlist.

“What is my choice? The Constitution does not give me that prerogative. The Constitution tells me that I have to choose from the list that they submitted,” Aquino told Palace reporters in his reply to a question on whether he had plans to return the shortlist to JBC, primarily because it does not include his choice candidate. 

Without being specific, Aquino however virtually admitted that his choice was De Lima.

“I think what happened was unfair to those with disbarment cases,” he said.