Leonen, Caguioa face JBC as search for next chief justice begins

MANILA — Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa faced the Judicial and Bar Council on the first day of interviews for the next chief justice.

In his opening statement, Leonen made public his nine commitments if appointed as chief justice, including fighting corruption, bringing courts to the people, and upholding independence of the judiciary.

“I emphasize this, I give no private assurance to anyone, about any matter, at any time, to any end,” Leonen said.

Similarly, Caguioa emphasized on the core values of the judiciary, including independence of the court.

“Not to be swayed by money and politics, that’s my core principle,” Caguioa said.

JBC member Senator Francis Pangilinan asked both Leonen and Caguioa to respond to public criticisms that it takes years for high-profile corruption cases to be concluded and if that is indicative of failure on the part of the judiciary.

“I cannot make that conclusion, I can only say that it is something that should concern us,” Leonen said.

“Do I recognize there is something wrong? Of course there is, is it solely the judiciary’s problem? I don’t think so, it’s a whole of nation approach in that sense,” Caguioa said.

Both Leonen and Caguioa said backlogs in courts will have to be addressed.

Leonen for his part committed to the public to uphold social justice as well as every large-scale corruption cases filed by the Ombudsman to be decided before the end of 2027.

“On our watch, we cannot fail them, I will never fail them,” Leonen said.

Leonen also talked about his idea of revisiting the way of admitting lawyers to the bar through the annual bar examinations.

“We need to rethink if that should be the be all and end all of our law schools,” Leonen said.

On Monday, the JBC will also interview Associate Justices Rodil Zalameda, Japar Dimaampao, Jose Midas Marquez.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo will compulsorily retire on November 6.