Palace: Carpio’s WPS stance immaterial in CJ selection

MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s differences with the Duterte administration on the West Philippine Sea row would not be a factor when the President picks the next chief justice, Malacañang claimed yesterday. 

Carpio, a vocal critic of President Duterte’s handling of the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China, is one of five justices automatically nominated for the post, which will be vacated by Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin when he retires in October. 

“No, I don’t think so. It doesn’t matter to him. What is important is he is highly qualified for the delicate job of the chief justice,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said when asked whether Carpio’s stance on the West Philippine Sea dispute would influence Duterte’s assessment of the magistrate’s qualifications. 

“The discretion to appoint the chief justice and for that matter any justice of the Supreme Court lies with the President, and he considers all factors in choosing the nominee,” Panelo added.

If appointed, Carpio would serve as chief magistrate for only about a week as he will also retire in October. 

Carpio has been criticizing Duterte’s policy on China, including his forging of a fishing deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The verbal agreement gave Filipino fishermen access to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, a fishing ground off Zambales that has been under China’s control since 2012, but also allowed the Chinese to fish in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 

Duterte has repeatedly claimed that an aggressive stance on the sea dispute would lead to conflict. But Carpio disagreed, saying the “specter of war” is being raised “only to intimidate the Filipinos into submitting to China’s encroachment” of the Philippine EEZ.