Ani can still aspire for vacant SC

Retired Ombudsman Aniano Desierto could still be named to the Supreme Court.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez told reporters yesterday Desierto can "still dream" to be a justice of the Supreme Court, even if he did not pass the Justice and Bar Council’s screening committee, because there are still vacancies.

"‘He could aspire again and he could be voted upon," he said. "It doesn’t mean that if an applicant is not considered in one instance it will be the end for all his aspirations."

But insiders said Desierto may have a hard time trying again because effective September 1 all JBC hearings and interviews will be open to the public.

They did not elaborate.

Perez said the JBC’s guidelines on public hearing would soon be finalized.

"It would apply for the next one," he said. "You know, in the interest of transparency we should not hide from any investigation."

Perez would not say whether he voted for Desierto or not.

"The balloting was done in secrecy and nobody knows who voted for who," he said. "We don’t really know who voted for whom. So each one is free to claim to have voted for a particular nominee."

Those who made it to the JBC shortlist are: Court of Appeals Justices Ramon Callejo, Conchita Carpio-Morales, Cancio Garcia, Delilah Magtalis, and Ruben Reyes, UP College of Law Dean Raul Pangalangan, lawyers Loreto Ata and Ruben Balane, and Sandiganbayan Justice Gregory Ong.

The JBC submitted the shortlist to President Arroyo late Wednesday so she can choose two nominees to replace retired Justices Jose Melo and Sabino de Leon.

Melo retired on May 28 and De Leon last June 8.

Another vacancy was created after Justice Santiago Kapunan retired last August 12.–Delon Porcalla