Corona insists he is no midnight appointee

MANILA, Philippines - Chief Justice Renato Corona is confident that his appointment is legal.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Corona said his appointment should not cause a rift between the judiciary and the executive despite President Aquino’s refusal to recognize it.

“There’s an SC decision that backed my appointment,” he said.

Speaking after administering the oath to newly elected Quezon City officials, Corona said the SC ruling exempting the judiciary from the appointments ban was final and executory.

It was meant to avoid politicking in the judiciary, he added.

Corona attended the inaugural rites for Mr. Aquino at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Wednesday despite the President’s refusal to recognize his appointment.

Mr. Aquino took his oath before Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, the only justice who dissented from the SC’s majority ruling in favor of the naming of the chief justice during a ban on appointments in government.

Meanwhile, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has set the deadline for nominations and applications for the vacant post in the Supreme Court on Monday, July 5.

The lone vacancy for associate justice left by Corona’s appointment as chief justice last May 17 will be Mr. Aquino’s first appointment in the SC.

In an advertisement in major newspapers, the JBC also set the same deadline for applications and nominations for a vacant post for associate justice in the Sandiganbayan.

New applicants or recommendees were directed to submit six copies each of their application or recommendation letter, notarized personal data sheet with recent ID picture, transcript of school records and Certificate of Admission to the Bar (with Bar rating).

They were also asked to attach to their application one copy each of the following:

• Their Income Tax Return for the past two years;

• 2010 clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Ombudsman, and Integrated Bar of the Philippines;

• Proofs of age and Filipino citizenship;

• 2010 police clearance from place of residence;

• Results of medical examination and sworn medical certificate with impressions on such results; and

• Certificate of Good Standing or latest official receipt from the IBP national treasurer.

The JBC opened last June 21 its selection process to fill up the vacant slot in the SC left by the appointment of Corona last month.

Under JBC rules, Mr. Aquino has until Aug. 17 to get the shortlist and make the appointment.

The collegial body is chaired by the chief justice with seven members: Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Francis Escudero, who represents the Senate; retired SC justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., longest serving JBC member representing retired justices; Justice Aurora Santiago Lagman, who votes for the private sector; and lawyer J. Conrado Castro of the IBP. – Reinir Padua, Edu Punay