MANILA – Sen. Risa Hontiveros criticized the appointment of Teresita de Castro as the new Supreme Court chief justice as “absolutely shortsighted.”
Several other senators weighed in on the appointment of one of the critics of the ousted chief justice, Maria Lourdes Sereno, but did not share Hontiveros’ view.
According to Hontiveros, President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to appoint de Castro to the highest position in the judiciary “fell terribly short on many fronts: short on integrity, short on vision and short on courage.”
“President Duterte just took the shortest and surest path to keeping the Supreme Court under his control,” she said.
Hontiveros urged Filipinos to “exercise extra vigilance in these extremely challenging times.”
The public should “closely guard” the Marcos-Robredo electoral protest and the case regarding the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, she said.
De Castro, who is set to retire in October, might become the shortest-serving chief justice.
“While the new chief justice’s term will be the shortest, it could also be long enough to cause further damage to our already battered democratic institutions,” said Hontiveros.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan also questioned de Castro’s appointment, noting that the magistrate will have to serve for only two months, with her impending retirement on Oct. 8.
“Why appoint someone who will only sit … for less than two months? What public purpose does it serve? What public value does it create? The appointment leaves much to be desired,” Pangilinan said.
On the contrary Sen. Richard Gordon is confident de Castro will “do very well,” citing her 45 years of experience as a legal luminary.
Gordon also described the new Supreme Court chief justice as “highly bright, competent and a woman of the law.”
Meanwhile Sen. Gregorio Honasan II said de Castro’s appointment “introduces elements of stability, continuity and predictability not only to the judiciary but to our democracy.”
On the other hand Sen. Francis Escudero believes de Casto’s short stint at the high court will be meaningful.
“Binabati ko siya. Maikli man ang panahon niya, hindi ako naniniwala na magsisimula siya sa simula dahil matagal na siya sa Korte,” he said. “Ang pagsisimula niya ay mas matagal na siguro kumpara sa isang baguhan na itinalagang CJ.”/PN
