Noynoy names 1st appointee to Supreme Court

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino made his first appointment to the Supreme Court yesterday, naming Ma. Lourdes Aranal-Sereno the 15th SC justice.

Sereno, executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, told The STAR she will officially start work on Monday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Sereno was government co-counsel with retired SC Justice Florentino Feliciano against German firm Fraport AG before the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington, and before the International Chamber of Commerce-International Court of Arbitration in Singapore against the Philippine International Air Terminals Corp. (Piatco).

“Both cases were resolved in favor of the Philippines,” he said.

Sereno was one of those who briefed Mr. Aquino on the NAIA 3 case, Lacierda said.

Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez, SC spokesman, said Sereno, Asian Institute of Management director, has worked with the SC and had already made contributions in judicial reforms in law economics.

“She is highly qualified and she will be a very good addition to the Court,” he said.

It was learned that Sereno was endorsed by retired Chief Justices Andres Narvasa, Hilario Davide Jr., Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno.

The 50-year-old Sereno will sit in the SC for 20 years, retiring in 2030 upon reaching the age of 70.

Sereno told The STAR in a text message that she is grateful to Mr. Aquino for naming her to the SC.

“Gratitude has to be given to God,” she said.

“The promotion came from him alone. We have to ask God for blessings in this country because the work ahead of all of us is tremendous in rebuilding and restoring faith in good governance.”

The 15th SC seat has been vacant since May 17 when then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo named Renato Corona as chief justice.

Arroyo appointed all 14 SC justices, including Chief Justice Corona, during her nine years in Malacañang.

Under the law, Mr. Aquino had 90 days to name his choice from a list submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council from the day the SC seat had become vacant.

An advocate of international arbitration, Sereno is an acknowledged expert on World Trade Organization issues.

She is a faculty member of the Philippine Judicial Academy since 2000 and has taught Civil Law, Negotiable Instruments Law and International Trade Law.

She was also part of the faculty at The Hague Academy of International Law in Cambodia in November 2004. ?Sereno is currently executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center.

She was a Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) awardee for law in 1998. ?Born on July 2, 1960 in Manila, Sereno was a law professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law from 1986 to 2006.

She finished her Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1980.

In 1984, she earned her Bachelor of Laws from the UP College of Law, graduating cum laude.

That same year, she took the Bar exams and got a rating of 89 percent.

Sereno pursued her Master’s Degree in Economics at the UP School of Economics from 1991 to 1992 and completed her Master of Laws at the University of Michigan in 1993.  

Palace: Arroyo justices impartial

Lacierda said Malacañang is confident about the impartiality of the 14 SC justices appointed by Arroyo.

“We are very optimistic that the decisions of the SC will be based on the merits of the case, and it will not be political,” he said.

Lacierda said the Palace believes all its EOs will stand constitutional scrutiny before the SC.

“We believe the SC as an institution will rule based on merits of the case,” he said.

“I’m confident, I’m sure our EOs will stand the test of constitutionality based on the merits of the case, based on the merits of the EO.

“We are hoping the SC will rise above the fact that they were appointed by the previous administration, and we know they are competent to deal with the matter at hand, without fear or favor.

“We have to trust the institution. They (SC justices) are the final arbiter tasked to interpret the laws of the land.”

Truth Commission’s findings to pass through Ombudsman

Lacierda said the Truth Commission’s findings and recommendations would be forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman.

“We believe that the executive branch is well within its powers,” he said.

“We believe that the power was granted under the administrative code of 1987. They can file a case in the SC.”

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa said Mr. Aquino will respect the findings and recommendations of the Truth Commission.

“No, he will not overrule the findings of the commission because the purpose is to provide closure to the issues,” he said.

Mr. Aquino signed Executive Order 1 creating the Truth Commission, which will have a lifespan until December 2012.

The five-man body will be headed by former chief justice and ambassador Hilario Davide Jr. — With Delon Porcalla, Alexa Villano