For the third time, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Monday postponed deliberations to come up with a list of the names of at least three candidates that may be considered as the next chief justice. 

 

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will appoint the country's 24th Chief Justice based on the shortlist provided by the council.

 

“The Judicial and Bar Council said that deliberations for the vacancy in the chief justice position [will be moved] to (August 8) Wednesday, 11:00 am,” acting Supreme Court spokesperson Gleoresty Guerra told reporters on  Monday.

 

JBC’s move is expected to give "the representatives of Congress more time to study the qualifications of candidates as well as to review the records of the interviews of the candidates,” Guerra said.

 

She recalled that Senator Francis “Chiz” Esudero, a JBC member, was not present during the live public interview of the 20 candidates chief justice aspirants two weeks ago.

Likewise, another JBC member, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., was absent during the last day of the public interview.

 

“Senator Escudero made a motion [to defer the deliberations] and this was concurred in by Cong. Tupas and the other members also agreed to grant the motion,” Guerra said.

 

The composition of JBC has been under scrutiny recently after former Solicitor General Frank Chavez filed a petition with the Supreme Court, saying Congress should only have one representative to the JBC.

 

The SC last week allowed Escudero and Tupas to remain in the council. - VVP, GMA News