Drilon: Carpio’s appointment as next chief justice still possible

SENATE Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, in a statement on Tuesday, said it was still possible for Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio to be nominated as the next chief justice after the retirement of Chief Justice Teresita de Castro in October.
“The President has announced that Justice Teresita de Castro is appointed Chief Justice with her seniority as a principal and major consideration. That could be a good indication for Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to be the next Chief Justice,” Mr. Drilon said in his statement.
He noted that Mr. Carpio “declined the nomination for the vacancy created by the removal (by quo warranto) of (Maria Lourdes P.A.) Sereno because he did not want to benefit from the removal of Sereno, which he has opposed.”

“But Carpio’s reason for declining any nomination for chief justice is no longer applicable today, because the vacancy that will be created next is by reason of de Castro’s retirement – not the removal of Sereno,” Mr. Drilon said.
He added: “Contrary to news reports that the President has shut the door for a possible Carpio-led Supreme Court once the newly-appointed Chief Justice retires in October, I read the President’s statement to mean that, he respects Carpio’s refusal to be nominated as Chief Justice for the vacancy created by the removal of Ma. Lourdes Sereno.”

“Unless I am wrong, the President did not close the door to future nominations of Carpio as next Chief Justice. In fact, the President’s statement that seniority is his major and principal consideration in appointing individuals to the government boosts Carpio’s chance of becoming the next chief justice.”
“Hence, I urge the most senior associate justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Carpio, to reconsider his stand and heed the call for him to apply as a successor of de Castro. I urge him to apply as the next chief justice.”