Prosecutor who indicted Estrada nominated for Chief Justice

A special prosecutor who helped indict President Joseph Estrada for plunder has been nominated as the Philippines’ next chief justice. Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio was recommended by his mentor, former Ombudsman and Solicitor General Simeon Marcelo. Villa-Ignacio’s nomination was submitted to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the body that screens and conducts interviews of candidates to vacant judicial positions. Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno is set to retire on May 17, leaving the position vacant. Villa-Ignacio is “most capable to lead the Supreme Court and will be an exemplar for the entire judiciary," Marcelo said in his recommendation. “He also has none of the disqualifications provided by the Constitution and the laws for said position." In a separate letter, Villa-Ignacio accepted his mentor’s recommendation but on the condition that his nomination be submitted to the next President, citing a constitutional ban on the incumbent from appointing officials two months before the elections until the end of her term. Marcelo is now a senior partner at the Villaraza Cruz Marcelo and Angangco (CVC) law offices. One of the law office’s founding partners is Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who is also one of the candidates for the chief justice position. Like Villa-Ignacio, Carpio accepted the nomination but only on the condition that the next President be allowed to make the next appointment. Another Justice nominated for the position In the meantime, retired Judge Hector Corpus nominated Associate Justice Renato Corona for the same position. Corona served “with the highest degree of efficiency, integrity, and responsibility and to conduct himself with propriety at all times," Corpus said. In a related development, Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez explained that traditionally only justices are chosen to become chief justice. At the same time, he said he is unable to second-guess the JBC. “It’s still too early to tell whether the ‘outsiders’ will be included in the shortlist of the JBC, but that is true, no ‘outsider’ has yet been appointed as CJ," he said in a press briefing. - RJAB Jr./GMANews.TV