For the third time running, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has postponed its deliberations and decsions on the names to appear in the shortlist it has to submit to Noynoy for the Chief Justice post.
This time around, the JBC blamed the flooding in Metro Manila, and the cancellation of the Supreme Court of work in all courts.
Up till yesterday, the JBC has not scheduled a date on the resumption of the deliberations.
One wonders what the JBC is waiting for, especially in this day of leaps in technology.
There is after all, what is known as a mult-conference call, if these members of the JBC are so scared of floods in Metro Manila. It is also presumed that these JBC members’ homes and cars are not submerged in flood waters. Besides, normal workday in government has resumed, save for some areas in Metro Manila that are still under a state of calamity, such as Malabon, Navotas and others.
It is just as strange that the the High Court, which was supposed to meet en banc yesterday, among the agenda of which was to resolve the disqualifcation and disbarment cases leveled against acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, had cancelled its en banc meeting, after which the JBC also decided to cancel its deliberations, using the excuse of the High Court cancelling sessions.
The last time the JBC postponed its deliberations, it was claimed that at least two member-representatives from Congress wanted more time to go through the qualifications of the nominees for inclusion in the shortlist.
Quite farnkly, that excuse is pretty lame. At this point, all the members of the JBC already know just who they are voting for and if each member is independent, there should be no reason for them not to be able to vote, or at most discuss the issues bedeviling both Carpio and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
Evidently, the JBC members continue to be under presidential pressure to give in to what Noynoy wants.
It has already been admitted by Rep. Niel Tupas, who always listens to his master’s voice in Malacañang, that he has prepared an amendment to the disqualification rule, no doubt to ensure the inclusion in the shortlist of De Lima, who is known to be the choice of Noynoy.
This is really very disturbing, given the fact that for years, the JBC has always stuck to the disqualification rule and, as a matter of record, at least two known  nominees in the past, such as then Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera and Poll commissioner Rene Sarmiento, were quickly disqualified due to the same rule.
Now, however, there is a move from a JBC member to have the disqualification rule amended, and for the sole purpose of getting De Lima’s name in the shortlist.
If this JBC rule is amended, then the JBC will have proved to one and all that it is not an independent body at all, and is an adjunct of Malacañang, which it really is, under the Noynoy administration.
That JBC as a selection body really should be abolished should an amendment or revision to the Charter comes about.
At the same time, tis delay would open the door for the inclusion of Carpio in the shortlist, although there is doubt that the disbarment and opposition to him based on a pending case filed by a town mayor  would disqualify him, as it will be the Supreme Court, headed by Carpio himself, that will make sure that the court, en banc, will be dismissing the cases against its acting Chief Justice prior to the JBC’s deliberations.
All these delays are merely eroding the public’s trust and confidence in both the JBC and the High Court.