THE LEADER of the opposition in the Senate wants Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro to “inhibit (herself) from politically charged cases, as a way to address “questions, issues, and doubts” on her appointment over the weekend.
Ms. De Castro held her first news conference on Tuesday, taking the occasion to assert her independence and track record in the judiciary.
In his statement on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon of the opposition Liberal Party (LP) said: “All questions, issues, and doubts surrounding the appointment of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, particularly with regard to her impartiality, can only be addressed if the newly-appointed chief magistrate refrains from participating in any political case pending before the court.”
“I encourage her to inhibit from politically charged cases in order to uphold the integrity of the decision that the Supreme Court may make during her short tenure,” Mr. Drilon also said.
He added: “I have known Chief Justice de Castro for over two decades and I have known her to be a woman of intelligence and integrity. However, whether she can do as much, set a trend, or influence the Supreme Court, during her five weeks tenure as Chief Justice is something that is difficult to expect given such limitation. What else can she do within her term?”
Pending in the Supreme Court is an electoral protest by Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. against Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, the current LP chairwoman. Malacañang has said President Rodrigo R. Duterte may step down if Mr. Marcos wins his protest case.
In her press conference, Ms. De Castro said in part: “I think they should look at my record,…my long service in the judiciary, and I don’t think that one incident like you mentioned would have been enough for me to be elevated to the highest position of the judiciary.” She was referring to her vote in the quo warranto petition that served to oust her predecessor and mutual critic, Ma. Lourdes P.A. Sereno.
“We should all move on and work together for the good of our judiciary. Let’s put the past behind us, but of course we should not forget the lessons that we learned in the history of the judiciary,” the new chief justice also said.
Ms. De Castro also said, “I would like to inform everyone that up to this time, I have not met the President…I did not approach him whether directly or through anybody. So he appointed me without knowing me personally. So I don’t think that the President will do anything that will impair the independence of the judiciary.”
She added, “We would like to express our appreciation that the President has that strong political will, to see to it that the merit system which is the hallmark of public appointment is followed, and upholding the time-honored tradition seniority in the Supreme Court.”
Regarding the impeachment complaints filed against her and six other Supreme Court justices, Ms. De Castro said, “I have no time to think about it, because you know,…I have very few weeks to work here in the Court, and I don’t want to be distracted by anything else. My schedule is full. I have so many activities set in the coming weeks, I do not wish to be distracted by that.”
“I want the De Castro Court to be remembered as the Court that restored collegiality in the Supreme Court, the Court which was able to institute several reforms in the judicial process. And I think I can do that in such a way that processes in the judiciary become more expeditious, less costly, and more accessible to the general public,” she also said. — with Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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