JBC to seek 10-day extension for filing of comment on Chavez petition

The Judicial and Bar Council is likely to ask the Supreme Court to give it more time to comment on a petition by former Solicitor General Francisco "Frank" Chavez questioning the composition of the council.

 

In a chance interview at the Supreme Court on Friday, JBC ex-officio member and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. said: "I have spoken with lawyers in the House of Representatives and probably we will file a motion for extension of time to comment."    

The high court earlier ordered the JBC, Tupas, and another ex-officio member, Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, to file a comment on Chavez's petition on or before July 9 (Monday). Tupas said the JBC would try to ask for a 10-day extension to file a comment.

 

Tupas was at the Supreme Court to attend a JBC meeting to deliberate on the long list of candidates for the chief justice post, vacated by ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona on May 29.

 

Tupas also said that instead of the JBC, him, and Escudero all filing separately, they would just file a joint comment on Chavez's petition.

 

In his petition, Chavez said the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that Congress shall only send one representative to the JBC. Over the years, however, the two chambers of Congress - the Senate and the House of Representatives - have been fielding one representative each, also accounting to one vote each during deliberations.

 

As House justice committee chairman, Tupas automatically becomes a representative to the JBC. Likewise, Escudero is the Senate's representative to the JBC since he chairs the Senate justice and human rights committee. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News