IBP nominates Carpio for chief justice

MANILA, Philippines — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Wednesday has nominated Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to the chief justice post.

In a statement, IBP president Abdiel Fajardo nominated Carpio to be the country’s top judge. The 40,000-strong group of Philippine lawyers said that Carpio, being the most senior justice in the high tribunal, “is most qualified to lead and manage the SC and the entire Philippine judiciary.”

“We thus support the return to, and the recognition of the wisdom, of the long-standing tradition of seniority in the appointment to the highest office of the judiciary, the Supreme Court chief justice,” the IBP added.

Carpio, being one of the five most senior justice in the high tribunal, is automatically nominated to the post. The justices may submit their written acceptance of nomination on or before July 26, 2018, the deadline set by the Judicial and Bar Council for those who want to apply for the position.

But the senior justice earlier said that he will decline the nomination to the position, citing his earlier stand on the historic ruling that ousted Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice.

Carpio is one of the six justices who dissented from the majority and dismissed the government’s quo warranto petition against Sereno.

In an interview with ANC on June 20, Carpio said that he has to be “consistent” with his position on the quo warranto ruling. “On a personal level, because I have voted against it, I don’t want to benefit from it, so I will decline any nomination,” he said.

The landmark ruling reaped strong criticism from the law profession and academe, and lawmakers.

The IBP sought to intervene in the case and urged the SC to dismiss Solicitor General Jose Calida's petition.

In its appeal, the IBP said: “With due respect, the Honorable Court’s narrowly drawn ruling shows the use of the law to pursue a desired result, that is, the ouster of the chief justice. This erodes, if not demolishes, the Rule of Law for which all members of the bar are sworn to uphold,”

Carpio was a member of the legal team that fought, and won, the country’s case on the West Philippine Sea before a United Nations-backed tribunal. He continues to issue statements that run in contrast with the current administration’s position on the maritime dispute with China.

Carpio, in a separate interview on CNN Philippines,  earlier said the Philippines’ sovereignty is “far more important than any position.”

Others who are automatically nominated to the chief justice post are Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin.

Velasco is due to retire on August 8, while De Castro will hang up her SC justice robes on October 8.