Filtered By: Topstories
News

2nd SC justice declines nomination to chief justice post


And then there were two. A second senior Supreme Court justice has declined his nomination to the position of chief justice by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the body that screens nominees to vacant judicial posts. Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, an ex-officio member of the JBC, on Monday said Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura informed them of his decision through a letter. “Justice Nachura is declining his nomination. He said that he would like to defer to the two most senior justices for the position of chief justice," Devanadera told reporters in a briefing. Nachura was referring to Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Renato Corona. Before Nachura, Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. also informed the JBC that he is not interested in the position of chief justice at this time. He said the nomination should be limited to the three most senior justices of the court. Another nominee, Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, has accepted being considered by the JBC but on the condition that the shortlist would be submitted to the next president. The Constitution prohibits the incumbent president from making appointments 60 days before elections. Devanadera said the JBC has set aside the issue raised by Carpio-Morales in her letter, which she described as “something different." Velasco, Morales and Nachura were among the five justices automatically considered by the JBC after it formally announced the opening of the nomination process in connection with the impending retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Puno is set to retire on May 17 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. As this developed, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines–Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa Chapter has issued a resolution opposing the appointment by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of Puno’s replacement. The IBP chapter, through its president Peter Irving Corvera, argued that any appointment of the president during the election period is “unconstitutional and inappropriate." - KBK, GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT