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Former Energy Secretary Raphael “Popo” Lotilla wrote a letter the other day thanking friends who submitted his name to the Judicial and Bar Council, that will screen the nominations and submit to the Malacañang a short list (usually three names) from where the President will choose the next SC justice.
He was nominated by former economic managers and economists Roberto de Ocampo, Calixto Chikiamko, Gloria Tan Climaco, Bong Montes, Simon Paterno and Romeo Bernardo.
Yesterday, former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo”Teodoro was nominated by Atty. Jose Mallari.
If Rizal were alive today, it is not farfetched that he would be in media.
I would imagine him writing stinging commentaries on the corrupt politicians and self-righteous civil society leaders the way he took on the hypocritical friars and cocky and incompetent Spanish colonial officers in his Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
I would imagine him an advocate of protecting our environment. As noted by an environmental organization EcoWaste Coalition, during his exile in Dapitan, Rizal did various projects such as the construction of an aqueduct that provided people with clean water, draining of swamps to avoid being breeding places of mosquitoes, use of coconut oil lamps to light up streets, beautification of the town plaza, and planting of trees in different parts of the town.
I would imagine him also writing about our state of education because the importance he puts in education was best expressed in his support for the women of Malolos who defied the wrath of Malolos parish priest Fr. Felipe Garcia, who forbade them to attend night school to study Spanish.
As of yesterday, reports said the Judicial and Bar Council, which screens nominees for positions in the Judiciary, for appointment by the President, has received 14 nominations for the position vacated by the recently convicted former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
The latest addition to the growing list are anti-graft crusader Frank Chavez and former Makati representative and writer/TV commentator Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr.
Chavez was nominated by Manuel Baviera of the Whistleblowers Association and Locsin was nominated by lawyer Brigido Dulay and ABAKADA party-list president Jonathan Dela Cruz.
The published names of nominees include Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares and women’s rights advocate Katrina Legarda,retired Judge Manuel Siayngco Jr.;University of the Philippines’ College of Law dean Raul Pangalangan, Ateneo de Manila University law school dean Cesar Villanueva, Inquirer columnist and former former Laguna Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Marianito Sasondoncillo, lawyer Nepomuceno Aparis,Rafael Morales, a managing partner of the Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan law firm.
This is a three-part series by VERA Files which we hope you will find useful as we monitor the selection of the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
JBC partly to blame for problems in judiciary
(First of three parts)
The Judicial and Bar Council is now the focus of national attention as it begins the process of recommending a replacement for ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona. The process, if done right, is expected to help restore public confidence in the High Tribunal.
Yet many in the legal profession and in the judiciary, as well as in civil society, say the JBC needs reforming, because it is partly responsible for the problems in the judiciary, exemplified by the rise and fall of Corona, a “midnight appointee” who was eventually impeached and convicted for violating the Constitution and betraying public trust.
By Ellen Tordesillas
Photos and video by MARIO IGNACIO
People go to the gym for a variety of reasons.
One overweight male journalist thought it was the best place to ogle at shapely beauties. He later realized, as he was sweating and panting, that there are less strenuous ways to indulge in girl-watching.
Vanessa Agdon, a group exercise instructor at Fitness First Southmall and Alabang, said you get most of your efforts in a gym than when you do it on your own without the guidance of experts.
A friend who listened to President Aquino’s speech at the 114th Philippine Independence Day celebration at Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan yesterday called me up confused about a historical event he cited.
The President started his speech recalling last year’s Independence Day celebration in Kawit, Cavite:
“Noon pong nakaraang taon, nagtipon tayo sa Kawit, Cavite, sa balkonahe ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo kung saan unang iwinagayway ang ating bandila. Doon, unang kumumpas ang martsang Lupang Hinirang, sabay sa pintig ng puso ng mga rebolusyunaryong Pilipinong, sa wakas, ay kalag na sa tanikala ng mga dayuhan. Doon, unang pinasinayaan ang karapatang makapamuhay nang malaya at nagsasarili ang bansang Pilipinas.”
She issued her own statement: “Together, let us pray for Manny’s immediate recovery and return to form. During your next fights, and during the challenges that will undoubtedly come your way in the future, you can certainly count on us to stand by you. Manny is still our one and only People’s Champ; and we are proud of him.”
As a number of journalists remarked, “Feeling.”
What do we care about Valte’s views on anything. We would be interested on the President’s reaction. She is not even the spokesman (who would have the right to issue his own statement).
As deputy presidential spokesman, Valte is supposed to release or read the President’s statement. The public is not interested on her thoughts or feeling about matters of national concern.
Aquino arrived yesterday from the United States and United Kingdom, so I suppose he still has to shake off his jet lag. That would explain his lack of reaction to an event that is of interest to Filipinos not only here but all over the world.
As what happened on the conviction of Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona when Valte beat him by a day in issuing a statement on such an important happening, we expect a statement from him later.
The latest survey by Pulse Asia on the senatorial preferences for the May 2013 elections shows that five in the top 12 will likely be in the Aquino administration ticket which would be composed of Liberal Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party, and Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.
They are re-electionists NPC’s Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda, who are in the top two in the survey; NP’s Alan Peter Cayetano (3); independent Antonio Trillanes IV (9), and Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara (12).
NP’s Rep. Cynthia Villar is in number 14, which is not a bad position. With a good media strategy and grass roots organization, there’s a good chance for her to make it in the Senate. Her husband, Manny Villar, is on his last term.
Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas is number five in the survey, which is good position if all he wants is to return to the Senate.
Former President Joseph Estrada said the United Nationalist Alliance will tackle Monday the letter-request to him of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III for the Binay-led UNA to drop former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri from the senatorial slate of the coalition for 2013.
In a letter to Estrada dated May 21, 2012 and obtained by www.interaksyon.com on Thursday, Pimentel said he cannot run with Zubiri in the same senatorial ticket for various strong reasons and cited his basis for seeking the exclusion of Zubiri—who sat for four years on the Senate seat that Pimentel should have had for six years— from the UNA ticket.
Zubiri had resigned last year from the Senate, citing “principles” after it became clear that Pimentel was about to be upheld as rightful winner by the electoral tribunal.