DOLE chief nominated to SC post

Labor chief Arturo Brion has been nominated to take the post of Supreme Court Associate Justice Romeo Callejo when the latter retires on April 28. In a chance interview with reporters, Brion said he was nominated and endorsed by Justice Renato Corona to the Judicial Bar Council (JBC). "I don’t believe in forward planning may career…que sera sera," Brion replied when asked if he had planned of being a member of the High Court. Brion recalled that he was among 10 people who were interviewed by the JBC on March 28, including Sandiganbayan Justice Tessie de Castro, Court of Tax Appeals Justice Ernesto Acosta and five or six others from the Court of Appeals. On his chances because of his perceived closeness to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Brion said: "Wherever she directs me I will follow…where I will finally end up, I don’t know." Brion was named DOLE chief in 2006, replacing then Secretary Patricia Sto. Stomas who resigned. Sto. Tomas is now chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines. Prior to his appointment in the labor department, Brion was an associate justice at the Court of Appeals. He also served as DOLE undersecretary from 2003 to 2004. - GMANews.TV