Sara Duterte blocks Midas Marquez’s Supreme Court bid

DAVAO CITY – Presidential daughter and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday blocked the application of court administrator Jose Midas Marquez for Supreme Court (SC) associate justice.

Carpio submitted a statement to Chief Justice Teresita de Castro and members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), indicating her opposition to the application of Marquez for the post.

Marquez is not qualified for the position, Carpio said.

The mayor accused Marquez of moving to have a disbarment case against her withdrawn in order to obtain favor to be appointed to the SC.

Carpio said Marquez and his supposed friend, Gemma Sotto, tried to intervene in her disbarment case filed by Davao City Sheriff Abe Andres.

Carpio punched Andres during a demolition operation in Agdao district in 2011.  

Carpio said Marquez and Sotto asked the complainant to withdraw the case.            

She said she has not asked anyone to help her in the disbarment case.

“I’m ready to face the consequences of my action,” she said.

Carpio also said she has no influence with SC and JBC officials.

She said Sotto had asked to meet her but she refused.

Carpio said she was shocked by the audacity of Sotto and Marquez to interfere in the disbarment complaint against her. 

“I felt humiliated by their actions because the complainant, witnesses and the public might think that I have a hand if Marquez is included in the shortlist of candidates for the SC post,” Carpio said.

Bets for SC post face JBC

Aspirants for SC associate justice to replace fwho is now ombudsman, Samuel Martires, faced the JBC yesterday.

Eight of the 13 applicants were screened by the JBC in public interviews.

They were Marquez and Court of Appeals Justice Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang, Japar Dimaampao, Stephen Cruz, Edgardo delos Santos, Ramon Paul Hernando and Mario Lopez.

The five other applicants are CA Justices Manuel Barrios, Mario Lopez, Oscar Badelles and Amy Lazaro Javier as well as Tagum City Regional Trial Court Branch 1 Judge Virginia Tehano-Ang. They have been interviewed by the JBC for past vacancy in the high court.

During the interview, Marquez was asked by JBC members to respond to Carpio’s accusation.

“The allegation that I talked to the complainant and witnesses and I manipulated the case is not accurate,” he said. 

Marquez clarified that he only spoke to the sheriffs’ confederation in September, or five months after the group decided to withdraw the disbarment case against Carpio in April. 

Last Tuesday, the SC recommended six aspirants for associate justice.

In session yesterday, justices of the high court came up with their own list to be forwarded to the JBC for consideration in the selection process.

Barrios and Carandang topped the list with 12 votes each. Bruselas got nine. Marquez, Dimaampao and Garcia each received eight votes. – With Edu Punay