PINAPURIHAN at umani ng suporta mula sa mga kongresista at isang batikang mambabatas ang pagtatalaga ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kay Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro bilang bagong punong mahistrado ng high tribunal.
“I salute the President for upholding the tradition of seniority in the Supreme Court. More so, Chief Justice Teresita De Castro has a sterling record of service in the Judiciary,” ang tugon ni 1st Dist. Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, na dating house majority leader nang hingian ng reaksiyon sa pagkakahirang kay De Castro bilang lady chief justice.
Ayon kay Fariñas, nakalulungkot na may ilang kontra sa matagal na at nirerespetong tradisyon na mailuklok ang pinaka-senior associate justice sa posisyon ng chief justice, sa pamamagitan na rin ng pang-iinsulto sa maiksi lamang na termino ni De Castro.
“The JBC gave her and Justice Peralta a unanimous vote of 6 in endorsing them to the President. I guess that if Justice Carpio did not decline his nomination, he would have been Chief Justice now. But he has until October 26, 2019, when CJ De Castro retires on October 8, 2019. The President might also carry on the tradition,” dagdag ng Ilocos Norte congressman.
Sa panig ni Philippine Constitution Association (PhilConsa) President Martin Romualdez, na three-termer Leyte congressman at naging bahagi ng house independent minority bloc, pinuri niya ang desisyon ni Presidente Duterte dahil nagbigay ito ng katatagan sa judicial system ng bansa nang i-appoint bilang chief justice ang most senior associate justice.
“She (De Castro) is very much qualified for the job and the President’s respect to the tradition of seniority will not only be good for the independence and stability of the judiciary but also to the country’s democracy,” giit ni Romualdez.
Sinegundahan naman nina Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu (2nd Dist. Batangas) Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, Quezon City Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo at Isabela Rep. Rodolfo “Rodito” Albano ang sinabi ng dating Leyte lawmaker.
“The President only performed his constitutional mandate. It is within his power and authority to appoint de Castro as the new chief Justice.
Not a single law has been violated,” pahayag ni Abu.
Umapela naman si Evardone, chairman ng House committee on banks and financial intermediaries, sa mga kritiko na respetuhin ang desisyon ng punong ehekutibo sa paghirang ng chief justice sapagkat ito naman ay bahagi ng kapangyarihan nito alinsunod sa itinatakda ng Saligang Batas.
Si De Castro ay manunungkulan bilang chief justice hanggang sa Oktubre 8, 2018 lamang kung saan aabutin na niya ang mandatory retirement age na 70 taong gulang para sa mga mahistrado. ROMER R. BUTUYAN
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