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'I do not think I am welcome in SC' – De Lima
(Updated 6:16 p.m.) Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, one of the possible contenders for the chief justice position, said on Monday she does not feel welcome among the "insiders" of the 14-member Supreme Court.
“Honestly, right now I do not think [that] I am welcome to the [Supreme Court] insiders,” the justice secretary told reporters on Monday.
“I may be acceptable to the rest of the judiciary—to the lower courts [such as] the Court of Appeals, Regional Trial Court, or Municipal Trial Court, but I am not sure if I am acceptable to the members [of the High Court],” she noted.
De Lima explained that her oral argument before the High Court, after her issuance of a watch list order against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, may be taken against her by other justices.
De Lima, who was recommended for the highest position in the Supreme Court, accepted her recommendation on Sunday, citing that she has the “character… and track record and passion as a public servant, to offer for such a crucial and revered post.”
The Justice secretary testified last February against former Chief Justice Renato Corona that led to the vacancy in the fifth highest position in the country.
The first hurdle
De Lima noted that she is still in the first hurdle in the search for the chief justice position.
“I want to make it clear na dadaan pa ako sa proseso. My first challenge is to convince my peers at the JBC [Judicial and Bar Council] of my worthiness,” she said.
Monday, July 2, is the last day of filing of recommendations or applications for the Chief Justice post.
“There is no certainty na malalagay ako riyan sa short list. Kung sakaling palarin ako, I leave the sound judgment to the appointing official,” De Lima added.
After conducting public interviews and discreet background checks, the JBC will come up with a short list containing at least three nominees. This will then be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III for approval.
JBC academe representative Jose Mejia earlier said that JBC members De Lima and acting chief justice Antonio Carpio inhibited themselves from the council’s chief justice search deliberations.
De Lima added that the pending disbarment case against her was still in the preliminary stages and cannot be considered as an administrative case.
According to JBC rules, a nominee will be disqualified if he/she has a pending administrative or criminal case.
“There is a seeming disconnect between the judiciary and the needs of the people. [The High Court] has a very low public esteem and credibility… Modesty aside, with all honesty, I could lend the face to be the rallying leader [of the Judiciary],” she said. Why did you accept nomination? Escudero said they plan to finalize the guidelines for the coverage of the screening process within the week. He also said they hope to start conducting interviews by the third week of July and submit by July 30 the shortlist to President Benigno Aquino III, who will have until August 27 to appoint a new chief justice. – with Kimberly Jane Tan/KG/RSJ, GMA News
Meanwhile, In an interview aired over GMA News TV's News To Go, JBC member Senator Francis Escudero said he plans to ask De Lima during her interview why she accepted the nomination when she testified against Corona.
"Balak kong tanungin yan kay Sec. de Lima, hindi para ipitin siya o ilagay siya sa alanganin, kundi para mabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na sagutin yan at ipaliwanag sa publiko para maintindihan ang kanyang katayuan kaugnay ng kanyang pagtanggap ng nominasyon bagaman tumestigo siya laban kay Chief Justice Corona," Escudero said.
The Bicolano senator said he's also interested in her explanation because personally he would not have accepted if he was nominated to the same post because he was one of the judges who had convicted the former chief justice.
"Ako malinaw ang posisyon ko diyan, nababanggit pa lang, napapag-usapan pa lang, bagamat hindi ako opisyal na nanomina, sinabi ko na simula pa lang wala akong interes at wala akong balak pumasok sa prosesong yan dahil bahagi ako bilang mahistrado sa naghatol kay Corona. Hindi maganda sa panlasa kung magkakaroon ako ng interes o intensyon na pumalit dun sa taong bahagi ako sa pagtanggal," he said.
Escudero clarified that the JBC members haven't formed any opinion yet regarding the nominees.
"Walang preference ang JBC members sa ngayon base sa aking pakikipag-usap ko sa kanila. Walang lamang o llamado, walang dehado, pantay-pantay ang pagtingin namin sa kanila ngayon," he said.
He stressed, however, said that they want a chief justice who is loyal only to the Philippine Constitution.
"Personally sa panig at parte ko, dapat loyal ang sinumang susunod na punong mahistrado sa isang bagay lamang, sa saligang batas, hindi sa pangulo, dating pangulo, sa partido, grupo o tao, kung hindi sa saligang batas lamang," he said.
"Ang trabaho ng isang mahistrado, lalo na ng punong mahistrado, ay ipagtanggol, ipaglaban, pangalagaan ang ating saligang batas at mga batas, sinuman ang natamaan," he added.
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