Jardeleza takes two-week leave

MANILA, Philippines - Newly appointed Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza has taken a two-week leave immediately after being appointed to the Supreme Court (SC) last Wednesday.

During his oath-taking ceremony, Jardeleza requested Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno for a leave to allow him to wind up his work as solicitor general, SC spokesman Theodore Te said.

Te said Sereno granted the request and allowed the new magistrate to start his leave yesterday.

This means Jardeleza will not be able to sit in the high tribunal in the next two full-court sessions.

Jardeleza, meanwhile, has opted not to address calls for him to inhibit in the high court’s resolution on appeal of Malacañang on its July 1 decision declaring certain acts under the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) illegal.

Since Sereno assumed the top judicial post in 2012, the SC has been implementing a “dignified silence” policy, prohibiting media interviews of its members – especially regarding pending cases in the high tribunal.

Several groups urged Jardeleza to inhibit in the DAP case, where as solicitor general he defended the position of Malacañang.

In many cases, magistrates of the high court have excused themselves in resolution of cases they have earlier handled either as counsels of parties or judges in lower courts.

Jardeleza, however, has vowed independence from the appointing power when he took his oath of office before Sereno last Wednesday evening.