ALSO READ LIVE BLOG OF: DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 CHECK: YOUTUBE PLAYLIST FOR #CJSEARCHThe live coverage of the Judicial And Bar Council Interviews for The Chief Justice Nominees begins today.
This is the first time the JBC is allowing the live coverage of the vetting process. The interviews began at 9 this morning with 6 nominees up for grilling.
PCGG chairman Andres Bautista was interviewed first.
1. ANDRES BAUTISTA -Age: 48
-Chairman, Presidential Commission on Good Government
-Member, Consultative Commission formed to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution (2005)
PREVIOUS POSITIONS:
-President, Shang Properties Inc.
-Chief Executive Officer, Kuok Group Philippines
-Chairman/President, Philippine Association of Law Schools
-Dean, Institute of Law, Far Eastern University
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
-Master of Laws, Harvard Law School, 1993
-Bar topnotcher, 1991
-Class Valedictorian, Ateneo Law, 1990
-Legal Management, Ateneo de Manila University, 1986
The Judicial and Bar Council has finished day one of the interview of nominees to the post of Chief Justice.
The 7-member JBC began with Dean Andres Bautista, who faced the panel for two hours.
Bautista,
PCGG chairman and Dean of the FEU Institute of Law talked about
overhauling what he called the "ineffective justice system", addressing
congestion in courts and restoring credibility, and upholding
transparency in the Supreme Court.
At 48 years old, Bautista will
serve as Chief Justice for 22 years, if he is appointed. He says, his
age will not be a problem, and is even proposing a term limit of 7 years
for justices or retirement at 70, whichever comes first.
Bautista
says there must be an effort on the part of the Supreme Court to hire
and keep the best lawyers in the judiciary. He was also asked about the
PCGG and what he has done for the agency tasked to run after the alleged
ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.
2. SOLEDAD CAGAMPANG
-DE CASTRO
PREVIOUS POSITIONS:
- Used to be Exec. Dir. & Usec., Minerals Development Council (2006)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
- Masters of Law, Harvard Law School and University of Michigan
- Doctorate, University of Michigan
- Passed the 1969 Bar (85.52%)
- Law degree from University of the Philippines
67-year old lawyer Soledad Cagampang-De Castro appeared at the public
interviews of the Judicial and Bar Council as a second nominee for the
post of Chief Justice.
The JBC asked her if she can still serve
the judiciary, given the fact that if she is appointed Chief Magistrate,
she will only have 3 years to implement her reforms before she hits 70,
the mandatory retirement age for justices.
Cagampang-De Castro
told the JBC, she is still physically fit. She also said she will just
work double time so that she can institute reforms before she steps
down.
Cagampang-De Castro comes from a family of lawyers but she
has not held any position in the judiciary. She says her expertise lies
in management and administration.
She was chief operating officer of Benguet Mining Corporation for 16 years before she retired in 1998 at the age of 55.
3. LEILA DE LIMA - Age: 52
- Secretary of Justice since June 2010
-Gawad Lingkod Masa Awardee (2010)
-Excellent Public Servant Award, "Agent of Change" Awardee (2010)
-Election Lawyer
PREVIOUS POSITIONS:
-Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights (May 2008- June 2010)
-Managing Partner, DE LIMA LAW FIRM (April 2007 to May 2008)
-Founding Partner, DE LIMA & MEÑEZ Law Offices (July 1998 to March 2007)
-Clerk/Secretary of the Tribunal, House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, 1993 to 1995
-Professor of Law, San Beda College of Law, 1986-1994, 2006-2007
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
- Placed 8th in 1985 Bar Exams
-Class Salutatorian, San Beda College of Law, 1985
- A.B. Major in History and Political Science, De La Salle University
Justice
Secretary Leila De Lima denies she will be an alter ego of President
Aquino if appointed Chief Justice. This as she faced the Judicial and
Bar Council for an interview as a Chief Justice nominee.
De Lima
says her perceived closeness to the president is just a speculation and
doesn't mean she will be beholden to him. De Lima adds, she would not
have accepted her nomination for chief justice if she wasn't sure of her
character.
De Lima also defends her defiance of a Supreme Court
temporary restraining order on her directive to prevent Former President
Gloria Arroyo from seeking medical treatment abroad.
De Lima says illegal orders are not worthy of obedience.
4. JOSE MANUEL DIOKNO
- Age: 51
- Founding Dean, De La Salle University College of Law
- Bar member, Republic of the Philippines and State of Illinois
- Chairman, Free Legal Assistance Groups (FLAG)
- Specializes in human rights
- Executive Director, Diokno Law Center
PREVIOUS POSITIONS:
- Special Counsel, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee
- Team leader and private prosecutor, Estrada impeachment trial
- Special Counsel, Development Bank of the Philippines
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
- B.A. in Philosophy, University of the Philippines
- Juris Doctor of Laws, magna cum laude, Northern Illinois University College of Law
The afternoon session of the JBC interviews began with Jose Manuel Diokno, Chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group.
The
51-year-old Diokno said there is a need to improve the delivery of
justice for the poor. He also called for a review of the rules of court,
citing unresolved big cases.
Diokno also denied he supports leftist groups.
5. FRANCIS JARDELEZA
-Age: 62
- Solicitor General since Feb. 20, 2012
PREVIOUS POSITIONS:
-Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon (July 2011)
-SVP/General Legal Counsel, San Miguel Corporation (1996- 2010)
- Established the Jardeleza Law Offices, 1990
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
- Masters of Law, Harvard Law School, 1977
- Ranked 3rd in the 1975 Bar Exams
- Salutatorian, UP College of Law, 1974
- B.A. Political Science, UP Visayas
The fifth nominee interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council today was Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza.
Jardeleza
told the JBC that if the Supreme Court keeps to its duty and to the
limits of its powers, it can co-exist with other branches of government.
Jardeleza added, his judicial philosophy is one based on the rule of law.
6. KATRINA LEGARDA
- Professor, DLSU- College of Law
- Immediate President, U.P. Women Lawyers' Circle
- Sr. Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, GSIS
- Founding Chair, Child Justice League
- Parangal ng Bayan Awardee (1999)
- Advocate of RH, Divorce Bills
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
- Passed 1981 Bar (84.4%)
- Law Degree, University of the Philippines
- History Major, University of Bristol, England (1975)
PREVIOUS POSITIONS:
- Used to work for Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) (1981- 1992)
- assisted in the prosecution of Cong. Romeo G. Jalosjos for statutory rape
The last nominee to be interviewed today was 57-year-old professor of the DLSU College of Law, Katrina Legarda.
Legarda, who is also the senior vice president and chief legal counsel of the GSIS, believes she can bring fairness and impartiality in the Supreme Court.
Legarda suggested monitoring the workload of courts to ensure speedy resolution of cases. She also hopes to expedite cases against erring judges.
Legarda who also worked for the Child Protection Network Foundation was also asked if there was a need to change the Juvenile Justice Law amid the spate of crimes, some heinous, committed by minors.
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