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PNoy appoints SolGen Jardeleza as new SC justice
By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News
(Updated 12:13 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday appointed Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza as new Supreme Court associate justice.
In a statement, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Jardeleza's appointment papers were transmitted to the high court on Wednesday morning.
Jardeleza's appointment came a day after the SC granted Jardeleza's petition for mandamus contesting his exclusion from the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council of nominees for the vacant post of SC associate justice.
Pressure from PNoy?
Bayan Sec. Gen. Renato Reyes, however, said President Benigno Aquino III exerted pressure on the SC so he can appoint Jardeleza to the associate justice post.
"Justice Jardeleza now owes Aquino big time. It was Aquino who exerted extra effort to delay appointing a new SC justice until Jardeleza was included in the JBC shortlist. It was Aquino who went against the JBC in an obvious powerplay vs. the SC," Reyes said.
He also cast doubts on Jardeleza's independence.
"So Jardeleza's independence would naturally be questionable. As the chief government lawyer, he vigorously defended DAP (Disbursement Acceleration Program) and the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement). These two petitions remain pending before the SC," Reyes said.
"It seems the Jardeleza appointment is still in line with Aquino's war with the SC in the aftermath of the DAP ruling. We fear for the implications of his appointment in the pending DAP petition now that there is a pending gov't MR (motion for reconsideration)." — With a report from Mark Merueñas/KG/RSJ, GMA News
The Supreme Court also confirmed the appointment through its official Twitter account (@SCPH_PIO).
"The Court acknowledges receipt as of 931AM today of the appointment papers dated Aug 19 of its 173d Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza," tweeted the SC Public Information Office.
Jardeleza's appointment came a day after the SC granted Jardeleza's petition for mandamus contesting his exclusion from the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council of nominees for the vacant post of SC associate justice.
Jardeleza, chief government lawyer since February 2012, will fill in the vacancy left by Justice Roberto Abad, who retired last May.
In a statement, the new SC justice thanked Aquino for his trust and confidence.
"I will dispense my duties with competence, integrity, probity, and independence—always bearing in mind the interests of the Filipino people," Jardeleza said in a statement sent to Malacañang reporters.
Jardeleza is Aquino's fifth appointee to the high court. The President also gave SC posts to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Justices Marvic Leonen, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Bienvenido Reyes.
Since he is turning 65 this September, Jardeleza will have five years or until 2019 at the SC. Magistrates are required to retire when they reach 70 years old.
The solicitor general was initially excluded from the Judicial and Bar Council's list of nominees for associate justice, supposedly based on Sereno's objection.
But on Tuesday, the high court granted Jardeleza's petition to be included in the shortlist, paving the way for his appointment as SC justice.
Bayan Sec. Gen. Renato Reyes, however, said President Benigno Aquino III exerted pressure on the SC so he can appoint Jardeleza to the associate justice post.
"Justice Jardeleza now owes Aquino big time. It was Aquino who exerted extra effort to delay appointing a new SC justice until Jardeleza was included in the JBC shortlist. It was Aquino who went against the JBC in an obvious powerplay vs. the SC," Reyes said.
He also cast doubts on Jardeleza's independence.
"So Jardeleza's independence would naturally be questionable. As the chief government lawyer, he vigorously defended DAP (Disbursement Acceleration Program) and the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement). These two petitions remain pending before the SC," Reyes said.
"It seems the Jardeleza appointment is still in line with Aquino's war with the SC in the aftermath of the DAP ruling. We fear for the implications of his appointment in the pending DAP petition now that there is a pending gov't MR (motion for reconsideration)." — With a report from Mark Merueñas/KG/RSJ, GMA News
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