Noynoy washes hands of Sereno’s ‘incomplete’ requirements

Former President Benigno Aquino III on Monday said the issue on the incomplete requirements allegedly submitted by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno when she was applying for the post should be best answered by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Named respondent in a graft complaint over Sereno's appointment, Aquino, in an ambush interview, pointed out that it was the JBC that made the list from which he picked the replacement of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.

Referring to the JBC, Aquino said: "Sila ang magbibigay ng listahan na hindi puwede pakialaman lalo na ng presidente. Kung ano ang nasa listahan, doon ka lang mamimili."

"'Yung sinasabi nila ngayon kulang ang mga submissions, sila (JBC) na 'ata ang dapat sumagot noon dahil sinabi nila sa akin pagbigay ng listahan ay qualified ito," the former President added.

On Monday morning, a suspended lawyer, Eligio Mallari, filed with the Office of the Ombudsman graft complaints against Aquino and Sereno in connection with her appointment.

The complaints arose from claims of two Supreme Court justices during the House impeachment hearings that Sereno should not have been included on the list of nominees for the position of chief justice for not being able to fully comply with all the requirements for the application.

JBC Executive Director Annaliza Capacite said during the House hearing that Sereno only submitted her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for years 2009 to 2011. She, however, said the application process was different at that time.

In his complaint, Mallari said Aquino's appointment of Sereno caused undue injury to Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo de Castro, and retired Associate Justices Roberto Abad and Arturo Brion, who all were able to comply with the requirements for their application to chief justice.

He also claimed Sereno was a de facto chief justice for being appointed without being accomplishing all the requirements.

Aquino said he has yet to see the complaints.

The House Committee on Justice is conducting deliberations to determine probable cause on the impeachment complaint lodged against Sereno. —KBK, GMA News