Guevarra again declining nomination for SC post a personal decision —Palace

Published July 06, 2020 05:50 PM By VIRGIL LOPEZ,GMA News

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s move not to vie for the position of Supreme Court justice was his own decision, Malacañang said Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque gave the reaction when asked during his regular press briefing whether the Palace asked Guevarra to continue serving at the Department of Justice.

“Ang alam ko po personal na desisyon ito. Ang huling narinig ko po kay Presidente [Rodrigo Duterte] ay kinakailangan lang naman magdesisyon si Secretary Meynard Guevarra, at nagdesisyon na po si Secretary Guevarra,” Roque said.

On Sunday, Guevarra said he once again turned down a nomination for SC justice

so that he could focus on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The government is facing a huge and unprecedented crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is especially during these troubled times that law and order must be preserved and maintained,” Guevarra added.

He first declined a nomination to the high court last year.

The Justice Secretary’s latest nomination was for the seat that will be vacated by Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr., who will retire on September 18.

Guevarra is now 66 years old, four years away from the mandatory retirement age for justices. — BM, GMA News

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