By Gillian M. Cortez
LAWMAKERS AND other officials responded differently to the appointment over the weekend of Teresita Leonardo-De Castro as Chief Justice.
Ms. De Castro, whose judiciary career has spanned over four decades, will have a brief tenure as she is due to retire in October.
Representative Edcel C. Lagman said in a statement that Ms. De Castro’s length of service “should never supplant the high standards of proven independence and adherence to ethical values required of justices and judges.” Mr. Lagman is one of several opposition lawmakers who have sought the impeachment of Ms. De Castro and six other associate justices who ousted former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno via quo warranto.
“The emerging public backlash repudiating the choice of De Castro must impel the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council) and the President to reconsider her nomination and appointment,” the opposition lawmaker also said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said in part, “Ang ginawa ni Presidente, tinahak niya ang shortest and surest path para mapunta sa kanya ang control sa Korte Suprema.” (What the President did was ensure the shortest and surest path for him to control the Supreme Court).
Ilocos Norte Representative Rodolfo C. Fariñas said, “It’s sad that a few people are denigrating such hallowed tradition by ridiculing the short tenure of CJ De Castro.”
Senator Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III, in an interview with reporters, said, “Bahala na si Presidente kung ano ang motivation niya du’n. Puwede kasi pinagbigyan niya kasi abogado si Presidente. Alam niya na lifelong dream ng isang abogado na maging CJ.” (It’s up to the President whatever his motivation in appointing her. It could be [in due consideration since] the President is also a lawyer. He knows it’s a lifelong dream of a lawyer to be CJ [Chief Justice]).
In a tweet on Saturday, Solicitor-General Jose C. Calida welcomed Ms. De Castro’s appointment, saying her “legal brilliance, competence, fairness and integrity ensure that justice will be well-served during her tenure.”
Ombudsman and Former SC Associate Justice Samuel R. Martires said in a text message to reporters, “She deserves it. She was my Presiding Justice at the Sandiganbayan and I’m pretty sure that the Sandiganbayan justices and employees are happy for her appointment as CJ.”
For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said on Sunday that Mr. Duterte “upheld judicial professionalism by appointing [the] most senior of aspirants.”
“She’s (Ms. De Castro) had infinitely more experience than the ex-CJ (Chief Justice),” Mr. Roque also said in an earlier text message to reporters last Saturday.
In a statement, Magdalo Party-List Rep. Gary C. Alejano said Ms. De Castro’s appointment is “definitely a picture of a cheap plot to take the Chief Justice post. This also shows how Duterte views government posts, the Chief Justice position, no less, as cheap doleouts to reward his followers.”
“Wala pong saysay ‘yan (That [allegation] is nonsense),” Mr. Roque said in response. —with Arjay L. Balinbin

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