MANILA, Philippines — Court Administrator Midas Marquez has received two recommendations to assume a seat at the Supreme Court.
In a letter addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said Marquez is a worthy candidate to take the seat to be vacated by retiring SC Justice Presibetro Velasco Jr.
Marquez is one of the eight who made it on the Judicial and Bar Council’s shortlist to take the seat of Velasco.
Marquez “is indeed qualified—to the highest degree—for a seat in the Supreme Court,” said the former chief justice, who has worked with Marquez in 2003 as one of his senior lawyers.
Puno, in the letter dated July 31, also vouched for Marquez’s “strong moral fiber and integrity.” He also said the court administrator possesses superior intellectual ability and has talent for writing, as evidenced by the law books he authored and edited.
“His recommendation by all judges and court personnel nationwide is an indication that he has served the Judiciary well,” the retired chief justice added.
Marquez recently landed headlines when he served as one of the resource speakers at the House of Representatives’ impeachment proceeding against former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
The former chief justice, whose appointment to the SC was nullified through a vote from her colleagues, accused Marquez of orchestrating rallies against her.
He is also facing a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged anomalous implementation of the $21.9-million World Bank Judicial Reform Support project. Marquez downplayed the complaint as an “old recycled issue.”
Ma. Cristina Corona, wife of the late Renato Corona, also recommended Marquez to become one of the SC justices. Corona said Marquez is dedicated and loyal to the SC. She also cited the three decades stint of Marquez at the top court.
“In his three decades of service to the SC, wherein he worked closely with various justices and chief justices, no one can beat or even match his institutional memory which serves as his unique and valuable asset,” she added.
Both letters were made public on Monday.
Earlier, Velasco addressed the SC for the last time as a member of the tribunal at the flag-raising ceremony.
He will hang up his SC robes on Wednesday, August 8.
SC AJ Presbitero J. Velasco Jr. addresses the Members of the Court and SC employees during his last flag-raising ceremonies before compulsory retirement on Aug 8. He is the SC’s 157th AJ; he was also formerly the Court Administrator. (Photos: CPIO) pic.twitter.com/gnezGdilrH
— Supreme Court PIO (@SCPh_PIO) August 6, 2018
— Kristine Joy Patag