Youth group teams up with Bantay Korte Suprema

MANILA, Philippines – In a bid to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, a group of University of the Philippines (UP) law students on Friday called for transparency in the selection of forthcoming Supreme Court (SC) justices. In the launching of the Youth for Judicial Integrity Movement, UP Law School student Alain Baguisi said the group will team up with the Bantay Korte Suprema (Supreme Court Watch) to bolster the watchdog group's call for vigilance on SC appointments. "We support the recent call of the Bantay Korte Suprema Movement to ensure that the nomination, evaluation, recommendation of the seven incoming Supreme Court justices will be transparent and public, not duly influenced by parochial and short-term political considerations," Baguis quoted the group's manifesto as saying. Launched in November, the Bantay Korte Suprema was formed to encourage public participation in the Judicial and Bar Council's (JBC) evaluation of the competence, integrity and independence of nominees to the Supreme Court. The JBC is a constitutionally-created body that vets, screens, and recommends appointees to the President for vacancies in the Supreme Court and the lower courts. Seven SC associate justices are poised to retire from the High Court in 2009. They are: Ruben Reyes, Adolfo Azcuna, Dante Tinga, Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Leonardo Quisumbing, Minita Chico-Nazario and Alicia Martinez. Baguisi raised the concern that the appointment of seven new High Court justices will mean that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will have a tighter hold on the SC before her term expires in 2010. "Judicial power is a strong power. The SC's decisions do not only affect lawyers or those in the legal profession but everyone," Baguisi said. Baguisi said that the Youth for Judicial Integrity Movement is drawing up concrete measures to get the youth sector involved in the protection of the judicial branch's integrity. In their manifesto, the group said they also plan to "organize a series of fora and symposia, and take advantage of technology to conduct research and public education across a wider audience in the shortest possible time." "We shall engage the youth in creative, in meaningful forms of political action, to spread the message of vigilance, hope and change," it further said. Baguisi said the Bantay Korte Suprema, through convenor UP Law School Dean Marvic Leonon, "welcomed the idea of having a youth sector that is parallel to the movement." "Bantay Korte Suprema appreciated the move and eventually, we will meet all the alliances supporting the movement, Baguisi said. Baguisi likewise welcomed the JBC's decision to shed its cloak of secrecy in its voting process for the first time. The JBC last Monday decided to hold an open-voting system where it will disclose to the public its shortlist of nominees vying for the slot to be vacated by SC Associate Justice Ruben Reyes. The open-voting will be held next week. "I think the recent events only prove that when the society becomes vigilant enough, we can ask from those in the position for transparency, and that's what's happening right now," Baguisi said. In a related development, media firms have likewise formed an alliance with the Bantay Korte Suprema to guard the selection of SC appointments. On Thursday, media outlets like GMA Network, Inc., ABS-CBN, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and the Philippine Star have signed a memorandum of understanding voicing their support to the watchdog group’s endeavors. “It’s not that we fear that incompetent and biased people will be appointed there (SC), but the public has to be informed so that they can participate in the selection process," said GMA-7’s President and Chief Executive Officer Felipe Gozon. For her part, ABS-CBN News and Public Affairs chief Maria Ressa said “we will help the Bantay Korte Suprema to demand that the process be free, fair, and transparent." CA bribery try Aside from calling for vigilance on the JBC's selection process, the Youth for Judicial Movement particularly said the bribery scandal that rocked the Court of Appeals (CA) recently “mars the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law." The controversy refers to businessman Francis Roa de Borja’s alleged attempt to pay off CA Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr with P10 million, asking him to inhibit from the ownership case with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to give way to CA magistrate favored by Meralco. At the height of the investigations on CA’s handling of the Meralco-GSIS ownership case, Justice Sabio also admitted he entertained a call from his brother, Presidential Commission of Good Government chair Camilo Sabio, to discuss the case. The Supreme Court later sanctioned Justice Sabio and several others in connection with the bribe try. In a statement, the group also expressed its intention to file administrative and criminal complaints against the Sabio brothers, saying it was not satisfied with Supreme Court’s decision to suspend the CA justice for two months and to refer the PCGG chair's case to the Bar Confidant for possible disbarment. "We shall remain vigilant not only in guarding the appointments of the President to the Supreme Court but also in guarding the actions and decision of the members of our Courts," it said, demanding a more severe penalty for Jose and Camilo Sabio. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV