MANILA, Philippines -- Three outsiders have been nominated to replace ousted chief justice Renato Corona, according to a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
The nominees are Katrina Legarda, Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza, and Ateneo De Manila College of Law Dean Cesar Villanueva, said JBC member Jose Mejia.
Automatically nominated to the post are the five most senior associate justices of the Supreme Court, namely, Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion, and Diosdado Peralta.
Nominations for the next chief justice formally opened on June 6 and will end on June 18.
The JBC is the constitutional body tasked to screen nominees to vacant posts in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman and then submit a shortlist to the President from which he will pick choices.
Aside from Mejia, other members of the JBC are Carpio as acting chair ex-officio; Senator Francis Escudero and Representative Niel Tupas Jr., representing the legislative branches; Justice Secretary Leila De Lima as an ex-officio member; lawyer Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., representing retired justices; and Aurora Santiago-Lagman representing the private sector.
Carpio and De Lima, who is said to be a possible nominee along with Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Henares, had inhibited themselves from the JBC deliberations.
source: interaksyon.com
