Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Sunday said she has accepted her nomination for the country's top post in the judiciary, after testifying last February in the Corona impeachment trial that led to the vacancy in the position

In a text message to GMA News, De Lima said she has accepted the nomination – separately made by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, the Zambales Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Civil Service Commission Assistant Commissioner Rogelio Limare.



De Lima was among the prosecution witnesses who testified at the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

In her testimony, De Lima claimed Corona influenced his fellow Supreme Court magistrates to allow former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave the country and seek medical treatment abroad despite being the subject of a poll fraud probe.

It was Mrs. Arroyo who appointed Corona chief justice in May 2010.

Voting 20-3, the Senate sitting as impeachment court found Corona guilty of culpable violation of the Constitution for not declaring some P200 million in peso and dollar accounts in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Pressure

De Lima had previously brushed aside questions about whether she would accept several recommendations made at the Judicial Bar and Council for her to replace ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.

"Kung puwede lang sana huwag muna kayo magtanong. Nahihirapan ako, nape-pressure ako," De Lima said.

The Justice Secretary said she would let the public know immediately once she has arrived at a decision. De Lima had said she wanted first to consult with her father, former Commission on Elections Commissioner Vicente De Lima, and President Benigno Aquino III.

Aquino, during his June trip to the United Kingdom and the United States, said that he would prefer for De Lima to remain at the DOJ.

 

“Baka dapat kausapin  ko siya na huwag  ka nang magpa-consider diyan at gawin mo iyong papel mo bilang vice chair ng JBC,” the President said, “Maraming cases na pending na 

hina-handle niya, eh.”

Apart from De Lima, a number of individuals have been nominated for the chief justice post before the eight-member Judicial and Bar Council – of which the Justice chief herself is a member. 

The JBC list includes, among others, Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Henares, Solictor General Francis Jardeleza, former Ateneo Law dean Cesar Villanueva, and women's rights lawyer Katrina Legarda.

Inhibited

In a report broadcast Sunday on GMA News program Balitanghali, JBC member representing the academe Attorney Jose Mejia said that De Lima had inhibited herself from the council’s deliberations. Thus, she is free to accept her nomination to the chief justice position.

"Kasi sinumang kasapi ng Judicial and Bar Council na nominado at nag-apply for the position ay inhibited. In the past, si Justice Carpio at saka si Secretary De Lima have been inhibiting themselves," said Mejia.

The next step for those who have accepted their nomination to the chief justice post is a public interview before the JBC.

"Ang mga tanong ay iinog sa apat na pamantayan: probity, independence, integrity at honesty," explained Mejia.— Mandy Fernandez /LBG/DVM/HS, GMA News