Escudero eyes ‘internal arrangement’ to solve JBC membership row

An “internal arrangement” between the Senate and the House of Representatives is being eyed as an option to address a Supreme Court ruling that both houses of Congress should have only one representative to the Judicial and Bar Council as it selects a new Chief Justice. Senate justice committee chairman Francis Escudero, one of the two current representatives of Congress to the JBC, said Senate and House leaderships may discuss the matter this week. “Kailangan magusap ang Senado at Kongreso. Hindi kami-kami lang o sila-sila lang ang magusap tungkol diyan. Sa Lunes o Martes magkakaroon ng meeting tungkol diyan," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. Earlier, the Supreme Court ruled Congress should have only one representative in the JBC. Escudero and Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. sit in the JBC as chairmen of their respective houses’ justice committees. Justice Jose Mendoza ordered the JBC to reconstitute its membership so Congress will only have one representative sitting as ex-officio member. Former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez had called the high court’s attention to the first paragraph of Section 8 of Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution, which said Congress is entitled to only “a member” in the JBC. Escudero said one of at least four options appears viable, the first being him and Tupas adjusting their schedules such that only one will represent Congress “at any given point in time.” “Puwede maghati ng panahon, (o) pangatlo magkalahati ng boto sa decision ng korte (We can share our terms or we can have half a vote each in making decisions),” he said of the second and third options. The fourth option is to have one representative for both houses of Congress, but with both houses of Congress having strict coordination with the representative. “(Dapat) may coordination sa House and Senate, sino ang uupo roon makipag-coordinate sa counterpart sa House at Senate para maiparating ang position," he said of the fourth option. In the meantime, Escudero said he found nothing wrong with both him and Tupas sitting together at the JBC starting Tuesday, when the JBC grills the candidates for Chief Justice. He also said the ruling may not be immediately executory if a motion for clarification is filed before the Supreme Court. But Escudero said he does not plan to insist on his JBC post, saying he is ready to step down. “Hindi para sa akin na igiit na dapat umupo ako. Baka magdulot ito ng mas malaking kaguluhan o duda sa prosesong isinasagawa ngayon ng JBC," he said. “Prudence is the better part of valor sometimes. I will also follow whatever decision the Senate, House and Congress as a whole will come out in regard to this matter,” he added. — LBG, GMA News