A private practitioner vying for the post vacated by Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who has been named Supreme Court chief justice, yesterday said the tribunal is facing two major problems: declining public trust and confidence and speedy disposition of cases.
Atty. Benedicta Du-Baladad made the claim when she faced the Judicial and Bar Council in the first day of online interviews of those vying for Gesmundo’s previous post. The JBC is the body tasked by the Constitution to screen nominees and applicants to the Judiciary.
“The Supreme Court faces two big problems, the decline of trust in the judiciary, which is a problem of perception. And the problem in the disposition of cases,” Du-Baladad said.
“The trust rating index shows decline of trust, and we have to address that because the judiciary is the heart of democracy like ours,” she added.
Du-Baladad said there should be a holistic approach and understanding in addressing the problem, adding that it should focus on people, infrastructure and procedure.
Asked by JBC member and retired SC Justice Noel Tijam if the justices are to be blamed, Du-Baladad said there are many factors at play.
Tijam was the ponente of the SC decision that ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno based on the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.
“Not really, it’s the totality of perception though of course the justices play a major role.
But it could be the system, the delay, the impression from outside,” Du-BAlabad said.
Aside from Du-Baladad, Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Geraldine Faith Econg and Rafael Lagos as well as Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ronaldo Roberto Martin also faced the JBC in the first day of the interview.
Today, Thursday, the JBC is set to grill CA Associate Justice Alex Quiroz, Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva and Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko.
The rest of the applicants, namely, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang, CA Justices Apolinario Bruselas, Nina Antonio Valenzuela, Ramon Cruz, Japar Dimaampao and Maria Filomena Singh, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and former Ateneo de Manila University dean Sedfrey Candelaria will no longer go through the JBC grilling, having been grilled in previous interviews.
