JBC defers anew vote on CJ shortlist

MANILA, Philippines - The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) announced Monday that it will again defer its deliberation on the shortlist of nominees for the next chief justice.

Sen. Francis Escudero, one of the two representatives of Congress to the JBC, said that the council will deliberate on the shortlist on Wednesday.

The JBC had announced that it will hold deliberations and come up with a shortlist of at least three nominees for the chief justice position. The three names will be chosen from the list of 20 final candidates interviewed by the council last month.

"Well napagkasunduan na ipagpaliban sa Miyerkules para makita yung mga deliberation ng JBC kasi dumistansya kami noon. Para ma-review, i-digest lahat nang ito," Escudero told reporters after the council's closed-door meeting.

Escudero and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, also a representative of Congress to the JBC, inhibited from the deliberations of the JBC after the Supreme Court ruled last July 17 that only one member from Congress should sit in the council.

Last Friday, the High Court said it is suspending a portion of the July 17 resolution that states the decision was "immediately executory." It said that the JBC can resume its functions with two representatives from Congress.

It said that it has to rule on the motion for reconsideration filed by Escudero and Tupas before declaring the July 17 as immediately executory.

With the pending resolution on the petition of the two Congress representatives, the High Court said that: "the court finds it more equitable for the present members of the JBC to resume their task of selecting nominees for the vacant position of the chief justice."

The case stemmed from the petition of former Solicitor General Frank Chavez, arguing that there should only be one member of Congress to sit during JBC deliberations.

Escudero, meanwhile, said that the council has yet to receive an official copy of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines' junking of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's motion for consideration on her disbarment case.

IBP President Roan Libarios announced earlier that the decision of the IBP to deny De Lima's petition was unanimous.

"Our position is based only in the rule of law. Our concern only is that the rule of law is upheld," Libarios told reporters after the IBP announced its decision.

The IBP chief, meanwhile, clarified that the decision to continue with the probe on De Lima is based on the merits of the disbarment case. He said the IBP is only complying with its existing rules and procedures.

De Lima is one of the 20 nominees interviewed by the JBC for the chief justice position.