Senators on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court decision temporarily allowing Congress to have two representatives in the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), even as they called on the high court to decide on the issue once and for all.

"I think that’s a good [move] for a potentially blitzkrieg issue. We welcome it," Senator Edgardo Angara told reporters in an interview.

 

"It's a positive development and a wise decision even if it is 'for now' to avert a collision between the SC and Congress and the Senate and a possible Constutional crisis," said Sen. Gregorio Honasan said in a separate interview.

Earlier in the day, the SC suspended its July 17 ruling pending the resolution of Congress' motion for reconsideration.

 

Still the lawmakers said the high tribunal should resolve the issue immediately.

 

"There are long term implications… pagdating ng panahon marami pang nominees. So it must be resolved with finality," Sen. Franklin Drilon said.

 

"I hope...that when the issue is decided with finality... it upholds the bicameral nature of Congress and allows for full representation of both Houses," added Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

 

Sen. Francis Escudero, the Senate's representative in the JBC, said he will begin attending the meetings again unless he is instructed otherwise by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

 

"We will sitll insist that the SC recorgnize that Congress is a bicameral body where one cannot represent the other," Escudero said in a text message to reporters.

 

One or two?

 

Earlier, former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez called the Supreme Court’s attention to the first paragraph of Section 8 of Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution, which says Congress is entitled to only “a member” in the JBC.

 

The high tribunal then came out with a July 17 ruling which said that Congress should have only one representative in the JBC.

 

Escudero and the House's representative in the JBC, Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., through the Office of the Solicitor General, filed a motion for reconsideration.

 

The Senate then asked the JBC to defer deliberations on the CJ selection until the issue has been settled. On the other hand, it asked the SC to hold oral arguments on the matter.

 

During the oral arguments on Thursday, Sen. Joker Arroyo asked the high court to give more weight on the intent of the Constitution to give equal representation of Congress in the JBC by giving it two slots in the council.

 

The JBC is the body created under the 1987 Constitution to come up with at least three nominees each for every vacant judicial position in all courts. The President can only appoint judges and justices from the short list of nominees submitted by the JBC. — RSJ, GMA News