Robredo widow a candidate for trial court judge

MANILA, Philippines – The widow of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has been recommended to be a judge in the Regional Trial Court in Bicol.

The name of lawyer Maria Leonor Robredo was among the 20 candidates sent to President Aquino, according to Jose Mejia, a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Mrs. Robredo has submitted all her requirements and subjected herself to the required interview, he added.

Mrs. Robredo reportedly applied for the post of RTC judge last year, and the JBC interviewed her last Feb. 22.

She was shortlisted for three separate vacant positions for RTC judge: Calabanga and Pili in Camarines Sur and Ligao City, Albay.

The JBC officially announced Mrs. Robredo as an applicant for the position on March 28 this year.

The JBC holds interviews of applicants before deliberating and coming up with a shortlist for Aquino to pick the judge.

Applicants are required to submit documents like clearances from the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Office of the Ombudsman, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the Office of the Bar Confidant; transcript of school records; certificate of admission to the Bar with rating; income tax return for the past two years; proofs of age and Filipino citizenship; certificate of good standing or latest receipt from the IBP; certificate of compliance with mandatory continuing legal education; and results of medical examinations, among others.

Upon filing of applications and nominations, the JBC would set confirmation and acceptance of recommendations before inviting the public to submit statements of support or opposition to the candidate.

Quezon Cross for Robredo

The Senate has given its concurrence to the conferment on Robredo of the Quezon Service Cross, the highest honor that may be awarded to a civilian.

If the House of Representatives also gives its concurrence to the award, Robredo would become only the fifth individual to receive the Quezon Service Cross in the nation’s history.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile filed the resolution for this purpose, which was promptly taken up and adopted during the Senate’s plenary session yesterday.

Enrile cited Robredo’s various accomplishments as mayor of Naga City and secretary of the interior and local government to qualify him as a recipient of the prestigious award.

As mayor of Naga City, Robredo “established a brand of public service that was fueled by humility, selflessness and dedication, which earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Good Governance in 2000 and a number of accolades,” Enrile said

Enrile said as interior and local government secretary, Robredo “continued his commitment to genuine transformative change and institutionalized a virtuous cycle in the agency – establishing a full disclosure policy and awarding seals of good housekeeping to local governments that performed well.”

“He showed his countrymen, not just through words, but through actions, how true public servants must act – with the Filipino people foremost in mind, regardless of personal cost or danger,” he said.

“The values, ideals and service demonstrated by Secretary Robredo compare favorably to the standard exemplified in public service of the late President Manuel L. Quezon.”

Only four other officials were conferred the Quezon Service Cross: Carlos Romulo (1951), Emilio Aguinaldo (1956), Ramon Magsaysay (posthumous 1957) and Benigno Aquino Jr. (posthumous 2004).

Based on the Official Gazette, President Manuel Roxas proposed the Quezon Service Cross in honor of President Manuel Luis Quezon to serve as the highest honor in the country.

Executive Order No. 236 issued in 2003 made the Quezon Service Cross the highest decoration of the country in the Order of Precedence of Philippine Honors and State Decorations.

The Quezon Service Cross is both unique and difficult to get because nominations have to come from the President and must have the concurrence of Congress.  – With Marvin Sy