Jardeleza, Brion testify on Sereno's alleged manipulation of JBC shortlist
In this 2014 photo, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno congratulates Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza after he was sworn in as new Supreme Court associate justice. File
MANILA, Philippines — Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza testified before the House of Representatives on his alleged exclusion from the 2014 shortlist to take the vacated seat of Associate Justice Roberto Abad.
On Monday, the House of Representatives Committee on Justice resumed the deliberation on the verified impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
Jardeleza said that upon learning about his exclusion from the shortlist submitted to then-President Benigno Aquino III due to an integrity issue, he wrote a petition to the Supreme Court.
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Retired Associate Justice Arturo Brion, who also appeared before the House panel, confirmed Jardeleza's narration. He recalled that Jardeleza, then-solicitor general, "passed the interview [with the Judicial and Bar Council] with flying colors."
The Judicial and Bar Council is the body constitutionally asked to screen the applicants vying for a position in the courts. After a series of deliberations, which include an interview and psychological tests, the body draws up a shortlist that will be submitted to the president, who holds authority to appoint.
Brion said: "Sereno could not hide her hand. She had to come out in the open and cited the integrity card."
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Jardeleza wrote a petition for mandamus asking the SC to compel the JBC to expound on the claims against him that led to his name being dropped from the shortlist.
However, his case, according to Brion, was only raffled to him on July 1. By then, the JBC has already drawn up the list.
The list was released publicly on June 30 and was submitted to Aquino on the same day.
Brion said that the judicial screening process was "manipulated."
The hearing on Monday is the last deliberation of the House panel for 2017. It continues its hearing next year, as it determines whether the complaint filed by Gadon has probable cause to impeach Sereno.
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