Antonio Carpio now open to chief justice nomination

MANILA, Philippines — Days before the retirement of Chief Justice Teresita de Castro next week, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is not closing the door on the possibility of being named to the highest position in the Supreme Court. 

“The last time I declined, it was against my decision. But I don’t see any legal obstacle anymore,” Carpio said at a forum in Makati City on the West Philippine Sea.  

He turned down last July the nomination from the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to replace ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno out of “delicadeza” as he had voted against the quo warranto case filed against her. 

Asked if he has accepted the JBC’s nomination this time, Carpio said he has until Oct. 15 to decide on the matter. 

“There’s no rush for me to accept that (nomination). Just wait for Oct. 15,” he said, adding that the possibility is always present as far as accepting the nomination is concerned. 

He said the situation at the SC is now back to normal, a few months after it was plagued with various issues. 

At the forum, Carpio encouraged Filipinos and the government to protest and fight for the sovereign rights of the Philippines in the disputed West Philippine Sea. 

As part of the information drive, he said they are now preparing an e-book that would be published online to create worldwide awareness on the issue. 

The e-book would be translated into different languages including Filipino, Japanese, Chinese Mandarin, Spanish and Vietnamese so that the world would know that the West Philippine Sea is owned by the Philippines, Carpio said.