JBC interviews aspirants for SC seat to be vacated by Justice Bienvenido Reyes

EIGHT ASPIRANTS for a seat in the Supreme Court (SC) faced the three-man panel of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) yesterday.

Eight out of 12 vying for associate justice in the high court faced the JBC panel composed of Executive Committee Chairperson and retired SC justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Jose V. Mejia representing the academe, and Toribio E. Ilao, Jr. representing the private sector.

They were asked to weigh in on controversial cases that the high court has recently ruled on — such as the bail granted to former senator Juan F. Ponce Enrile and the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani — and is currently facing, such as the petitions challenging President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

The 12 are vying for position to be vacated by Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes, who will reach the retirement age of 70 on July 6.

First to face the council was Court Administrator and former SC spokesperson Jose Midas P. Marquez, who said Congress need not convene on Mr. Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216 or the declaration of martial law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus over the island of Mindanao.

Mr. Marquez emphasized the executive’s power to declare such: “The Constitution is very clear: The President can declare martial law.”

Asked about the two petitions for mandamus asking the SC to compel Congress to convene, Mr. Marquez said the two chambers only need to convene “if they will either revoke or extend the 60-day period” held in the Constitution.

“Because... there is nothing there [1987 Constitution] that authorizes both houses to convene,” Mr. Marquez added.

One of the Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justices subjected to the tirade and a pending disbarment case by House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, Stephen C. Cruz also faced the Council. Ms. Gutierrez asked Mr. Cruz why he issued the writ of habeas corpus for the six employees of the Ilocos Norte government allegedly detained by Congress.

The Fourth Division of the CA, where Mr. Cruz is a member, ordered the release of the six, after they repeatedly told the House panel, led by Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny T. Pimentel, in an inquiry that they could not recall receiving millions of cash advances.