Justice Marvic Leonen denies seeking chief justice post

MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic Leonen has denied rumors that he asked President Duterte to appoint him chief justice.

In a forum organized by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association on Tuesday, Leonen described as “pure false” the rumor posted on social media by pro-Duterte blogger RJ Nieto last month.

“Recently, somebody posted that I went to Davao to talk to the President. That’s pure false that I am able to talk to the President and second, it is ridiculous that I asked for the position of chief justice,” he said.

“I am number eight. I know that the five most senior justices are the most qualified to become chief justice. Anyone of them,” he added, referring to the order of seniority of the SC justices.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel earlier this month, Leonen, an appointee of former president Benigno Aquino III, said seniority should be considered in selecting the next chief justice.

He also maintained that he is not aspiring to take over the post left vacant by the ouster of fellow Aquino appointee Maria Lourdes Sereno, whose appointment was questioned by Solicitor General Jose Calida via a quo warranto petition.

Leonen said the work of a chief justice requires some sort of capacity or attitude that he cannot imagine himself adopting at the moment.

“You have to be able to find a middle ground. You have to have the gravitas to be able to bring people to listen to each other and then later on, come out with a decision,” he added.

Under the rules of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the five most senior justices are automatically nominated for the chief justice post.

However, JBC member Jose Mejia said over the weekend that none of the five senior justices that include acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin have responded to their automatic nominations.

Mejia said no application or nomination has been submitted as of July 13.

At the UP forum, Leonen stressed the need for stakeholders to address the problem of corruption in the judiciary.

“Corruption weakens judicial independence far more than political interference,” he said.

“The only way that this cycle may be broken is for this court to clearly acknowledge that the responsibility for maintaining ethical standards is shared by both the judiciary and the legal profession,” Leonen added.

The magistrate called on the public to vet candidates to judiciary posts.