Bantay Korte Suprema to monitor SC appointments

11/18/2008

A multi-sectoral coalition yesterday launched Bantay Korte Suprema (BKS) as a Supreme Court (SC) watchdog in the light of the 2009 retirement of seven SC justices and the appointment of their replacements.

The BKS is composed of past Philippine presidents, retired SC justices, legislators, legal practitioners, the academe, the business community and the media.

The highlight of the BKS launch was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the public monitoring of the selection of justices of the SC. The first vacancy in the 15-man SC will be on Jan. 3, 2009.

Among other objectives, the MoU aims at encouraging public involvement in the evaluation of the fitness, integrity and competence of the nominees to the SC.

The group will guarantee that nominees to the Judiciary are selected based on real standards of competence, integrity, probity, independence and track record in the practice of law, and not on parochial, short-term political considerations.

Among those present in yesterday’s launch of the BKS were retired SC Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, former Senate President Jovito Salonga, Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan, who is also a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), and Atty. Rodolfo Urbiztondo, of the 48,000-strong Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and the chambers of commerce.

Pangilinan said pending cases will be deliberated upon by members of the JBC, in so far as nominees to the JBC are concerned, citing the case of Sandiganbayan Justice Gregorio Ong who was given an appointment but which was subsequently withdrawn due to his questionable citizenship.

For his part, Panganiban hinted at a possible “hiatus” in the Chief Justice shift in the retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno who will turn 70 on May 16, 2010.

The retired Chief Justice cited Article 7, Section 5 of the Constitution which provides: “Two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his/her term, a President or an Acting President shall not make appointments, except temporary appointments.”

The incumbent president, Panganiban said, is banned from making any appointments before the next presidential election, or two months before the end of her term on June 30, 2010.

Panganiban added that if there is “hiatus,” there will be a solution such that if the President is abroad, the SC can appoint an Acting Chief Justice.

”We must watch the appointment of the next seven SC justices who will address the issue,” he said.

The BKS rinvited the public to send in their comments to the BKS, the Makati Business Club and to the media, regarding the next appointments to the highest court of the land.

For its part, the IBP sees to it that “the best and brightest” will be appointed to the judiciary.

Pangilinan, who has been a member of the JBC for the last six years, also pointed out that if President Arroyo will appoint the next Chief Justice, therefore, there is no constitutional basis for such an appointment.

The BKS will soon dialog with the JBC regarding the seven vacancies in the high tribunal next year. PNA

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006