(Eagle News) — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) asked the supreme court to nullify President Benigno S. Aquino III’s appointment of two associate justices to the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.
In a petition, the IBP said Aquino violated the constitution when he appointed former Cebu City Regional Trial Court Branch 9 presiding judge Geraldine Faith Econg and undersecretary Michael Frederick Musngi of the Office of Special Concerns at the Office of the President to the Sandiganbayan.
According to the IBP, Aquino violated Section 9, Article VIII of the 1987 constitution when he disregarded to choose appointees to fill the position of 16th Sandiganbayan associate justices from the shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
The JBC in October last year submitted to Aquino six separate shortlist for each of the six vacancies in the Sandiganbayan where Aquino can choose. The president however disregarded one of the five shortlists and appointed two from another shortlist.
Asean in focus
