Leila is first on interview list

JUSTICE Secretary Leila de Lima, said to be a favored contender in the Chief Justice race, will be one of the first aspirants to be subjected to public scrutiny when the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) opens the public interviews with nominees on July 24.

In an announcement published in the INQUIRER yesterday, the JBC said the panel interviews, which will be covered live for the first time, will be held at the Division Hearing Room of the Supreme Court building in Manila.

The JBC also said it will be accepting until July 20 oppositions to the nomination of any of the 22 aspirants to the seat vacated by ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Those opposed to the appointment of any nominee should send at least 10 “legi- ble copies” of their sworn complaint, opposition or report to the JBC.

Lawyer Jose Mejia, a JBC member representing academe, said each interview may last for at least 30 minutes.

De Lima will face the JBC panel during July 24’s morning session, following the interviews with Presidential Commission on Good Government Chair Andres Bautista and lawyer Soledad Cagampang-de Castro.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday granted the request of Sen. Francis Escudero and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. to be given until July 13 to submit their comment on the petition filed by lawyer Francisco Chavez questioning the composition of the JBC.