Corona to convene JBC to choose new Supreme Court justice

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona plans to convene the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to allow the next president to name the 15h Supreme Court (SC) justice before the Aug. 17 deadline.

“The vacancy occurred last May 17 so the (next) president has until Aug. 17 to make the appointment,” he said.

Corona, who is also JBC chairman, said few changes in composition of their members would not delay the selection process.

“There’s no problem, for as long as we have a quorum,” he said, but clarified that they have not yet set a date for the JBC meeting.

However, it would be held immediately after the SC resumes session on June 15, he added.

The terms of University of Santo Tomas Dean Emeritus Amado Dimayuga, who represents the academe, and Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor Jr., who votes for the House of Representatives, will end on June 9 and 30.

Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, another ex-officio JBC member, is also expected to be replaced after President Arroyo steps down on June 30.

With at least five of the eight members present during the meeting, the JBC may proceed with selection process and could even vote for a shortlist to be submitted to the president.

Under the Constitution, the representative of academe is a regular member of the body who is appointed by the president for a two-year term. The delegate of the House of Representatives, on the other hand, sits as ex-officio member until end of his or her term.

Sen. Francis Escudero, who represents the Senate, is expected to keep his membership in the JBC.

Other members of the JBC are retired SC Justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., the longest serving JBC member who was reappointed by Mrs. Arroyo to represent retired justices; Justice Aurora Santiago Lagman, who votes for the private sector; and IBP representative lawyer J. Conrado Castro.

Meanwhile, 75 inmates were released yesterday after their cases were dismissed and terminated during Corona’s launching of the enhanced justice on wheels project in Marikina.

A total of 130 detainees benefited from medical and dental services, while 50 others from free legal assistance.

Four cases were also successfully resolved through mediation.

The SC started the Justice of Wheels program to speed up litigation of cases involving poor families.