(Eagle News) — Senator Franklin Drilon on Tuesday, Aug. 28, expressed support for Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio replacing Teresita Leonardo-De Castro once she retires as Chief Justice in October.
In the first place, he said based on his understanding, “the President did not close the door to future nominations of Carpio as next Chief Justice.”
“In fact, the President’s statement that seniority is his major and principal consideration in appointing individuals to the government boosts Carpio’s chance of becoming the next chief justice,” he said.
He added the reason Carpio declined the nomination for the vacancy created by the removal of Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief Justice—“because he did not want to benefit from (her) removal, which he has opposed”—-was no longer applicable “because the vacancy that will be created next is by reason of de Castro’s retirement – not the removal of Sereno.”
“I urge the most senior associate justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Carpio, to reconsider his stand and heed the call for him to apply as a successor of de Castro. I urge him to apply as the next chief justice,” Drilon said.
De Castro took her oath as Chief Justice on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
She took over the post left vacated by Sereno after her appointment as Chief Justice was nullified by the SC, voting 8-6, in May.
De Castro, Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, Noel Tijam, Samuel Martires, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo voted to oust Sereno, while Carpio and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Mariano del Castillo, Estela Bernabe, Marvic Leonen and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa dissented.
The SC affirmed its May decision in June.