JBC completes interviews for PH chief justice candidates

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has concluded the public panel interviews for candidates to replace Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, who will reach his mandatory retirement on Nov. 6.

The JBC interviewed the second batch of aspirants composed of Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda, Japar B. Dimaampao and Midas P. Marquez on Monday.

The first batch, composed of Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, was interviewed on Oct. 22.

Zalameda promised to initiate substantive reforms if he is chosen as the next chief justice.

“Implementation of my proposed reforms will proceed in phases. We will start by establishing baselines and priorities, followed by testing and refining reforms. We then expand those that demonstrate results and institutionalize successful initiatives to ensure sustainability,” Zalameda said.

“In the end, the true measure of these reforms will not be the number of projects launched, but the difference they make in the lives of our people,” he added.

Zalameda practiced privately from 1990 to 1995 before returning to government service as a public prosecutor, where he served for 13 years.

In 2008, he was appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals and eleven years later appointed to the Supreme Court.

For his part, Marquez underscored his three decades as an official of the high court, saying "learned from the best and the brightest in the Judiciary.”

“I emulated their strengths and addressed their weaknesses," he said.

As court administrator, Marquez initiated the e-warrant and e-subpoena, implemented the Hague Service Convention and spearheaded the creation of the Office of the Judiciary Marshals by petitioning Congress.

He also worked to ensure the security of court workers and advocated online appearances of overseas Filipino workers in the court proceedings in the country.

Gesmundo, ex officio chairperson of the JBC and representative of the Judiciary, led the panel interviews.

Joining him were JBC members: Fredderick A. Vida, Secretary of Justice and JBC ex officio member representing the Executive Department; Francis N. Pangilinan, senator and JBC ex officio member representing the Legislative Department; Gerville R. Luistro, congresswoman and JBC ex officio member representing the Legislative Department; Jose Catral Mendoza, JBC regular member representing the retired SC Justices; Nesauro H. Firme, JBC regular member representing the Academe; Erlinda Piñera Uy, JBC regular member representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and Jose V. Mejia, JBC regular member representing the private sector.