Carpio is most logical choice for CJ — Leonen

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio is the “most logical choice” for the chief justice post, according to one of his colleagues in the Supreme Court.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen believes that Carpio – who was bypassed for the top judicial post in 2010 and 2012 – is qualified to become chief justice.

“He has a lot of gravitas. He is respected in terms of intellectual capability and he has experienced a lot in terms of the (SC) and in terms of politics... He would be the most logical choice,” Leonen said of Carpio in a recent interview.

Leonen, now the sixth most senior member of the SC, also cited Carpio’s performance as acting chief justice in several instances – after the ouster by impeachment of the late chief justice Renato Corona in 2012, ouster by quo warranto of chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno earlier this year and the retirement of chief justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro on Oct. 10.

“At times he acted as chief justice, decisions were efficient, decisions of other justices are respected and there’s good facilitation of discussion in the (collegial session)... There’s a lot of confidence in how the (SC) is managed even though he is acting chief justice,” Le- onen stressed.

Leonen also explained that seniority should be an important consideration in selecting the next SC chief.

“Seniority, to me, is a marker of experience and a marker of a period under which you have gained the respect of your colleagues. You have to have experience as chair of the committee. Seniority is important, only because it is a marker of experience and potentially leadership,” Leonen explained.

Leonen believes that the three other senior magistrates vying for the chief justice post – Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Estela Perlas-Bernabe – are likewise qualified.

He said Peralta is “very passionate about processes of the court” and has “worked on continuous trial and speedy trial” while Bersamin is “very diligent and conscientious in terms of his decisions.”

Leonen said Bernabe, on the other hand, is “very collegial in terms of her work” and “most of her decisions are unanimous simply because she is able to accommodate a lot of points of view which is a mark of a good leader.”

Of the five senior justices who were automatically nominated for chief justice, only Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo declined nomination.