Miriam: De Lima ‘mentality’ will bring ‘dilemma’ to SC

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago explained Thursday that the possible appointment of Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima as the next chief justice will bring added controversy to the Supreme Court.

 

According to Santiago’s explanation, a De Lima appointment will place the SC in the awkward position of having a chief justice who defies the Supreme Court.

 

De Lima had allegedly defied an SC ruling last November when she ordered immigration and airport officials to bar former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from leaving the country. The high court had issued a temporary restraining order virtually allowing Mrs. Arroyo’s travel.  

“I will say my eyebrows rose to the ceiling when I heard she did not follow a Supreme Court ruling. I cannot see that kind of mentality ruling the SC. The court will certainly be in a dilemma,” Santiago said in a press briefing.

 

De Lima’s explanation for her alleged disobedience of the SC is that she did not receive a copy of the TRO at the time of Mrs. Arroyo’s attempt to leave the country.

 

The Department of Justice chief is currently facing a disbarment case due to her defiance of the SC TRO. The Judicial and Bar Council said De Lima may be disqualified from the selection process for the next chief justice if she fails to settle this case before July 30. 

 

‘Non-controversial’ chief justice

 

Santiago however said that the public should still allow De Lima to explain her action on the SC TRO when the DOJ secretary faces the JBC for a televised interview on July 24. 

 

“This could really be a reason for questioning her, but let’s see how she explains this,” the senator said.

 

Santiago added that De Lima also put President Benigno Aquino III in a tough position when the Cabinet official decided to accept her nomination for chief justice.

 

“If he appoints someone close to him, the public will think the impeachment trial [of former Chief Justice Renato Corona] was only a melodrama,” said Santiago. "At the same time, the President will want to have control of the SC. It's every president's dream," she added.

 

Santiago said that she is personally rooting for a “non-controversial” male candidate with a record of expertise. 

 

She declined to divulge the name of this CJ candidate, but described him as “someone na maamo ang mukha, mala-anghel”.

 

The President has until August 27, 90 days since Corona was removed from his post, to appoint the next chief justice from the list to be submitted to him by the JBC. — DVM, GMA News