Solgen to face JBC to answer questions on integrity

MANILA, Philippines - Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza will face the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Monday to defend his qualification for the lone vacancy in the Supreme Court (SC) left by the retirement of Associate Justice Roberto Abad last month.

Jardeleza said he would personally address before the seven-member council the supposed “integrity question” raised against him by JBC chair Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

“I will be there to clear my name before the public,” the government’s chief lawyer told The STAR.

The JBC has invited Jardeleza to its session on Monday – before it votes on the shortlist for the SC vacancy – over the charges raised by Sereno in previous sessions even in the absence of formal allegation from any party.

The Chief Justice raised before the council questions on Jardeleza’s integrity twice without specifying the nature and cause of the accusation.

Jardeleza earlier this week said he wanted to be given the opportunity to answer the allegation and asked the high tribunal to “disallow” Sereno in the JBC deliberations for alleged violation of rules and his right to due process.

Despite his plea before the SC, which is not expected to act until Tuesday when justices hold their regular session, Jardeleza decided to appear before the JBC.

“I will insist on being given opportunity to answer whatever allegation is hurled against me,” he said.

The Constitution requires a justice of the high court to be “a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.”

Jardeleza believes he would be able to prove his integrity.

“I have built a life in the law based on integrity. My parents sacrificed a lot to send me to the University of the Philippines College of Law. I owe it to them to preserve my integrity. I also owe it to them to clear my name,” he stressed.

Jardeleza has accused Sereno of partiality for acting both as “prosecutor and judge.”

He explained that Sereno also violated rules requiring the council to act only on allegations against nominees that are backed by evidence, to allow the nominee to answer the charges or objections and to be transparent in all its proceedings.

Because of this, Jardeleza asked the SC to intervene in the selection process and exercise its “constitutional power and duty of supervision” over the JBC, the constitutional body tasked to vet nominees for posts in the judiciary and the Sandiganbayan.

Apart from disallowing Sereno from sitting in the JBC voting, Jardeleza also urged the high tribunal to order the council to inform him in writing of the sworn specifications of the charges against him.

He also begged to be allowed to cross-examine his oppositor and supporting witnesses in public.

Reports had it that Jardeleza and Sereno belonged to two opposing factions when they were still in the UP College of Law, with the former allied with dean Danny Concepcion and former dean Raul Pangalangan.

Because of his plea in the SC, Sereno met with JBC members last Thursday. They decided to proceed with the voting on Monday and no longer wait for the high court to act on Jardeleza’s request, according to an insider.