Duterte's law school classmate to sit in Judicial and Bar Council

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a law school classmate as a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the multi-sectoral body which carefully screens nominees to the judicial branch, the Office of the Ombudsman, and its deputies.

Retired Pasig Regional Trial Court Judge Toribio Elises Ilao Jr. replaces retired Court of Appeals Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman, who stepped down last July 9 as representative of the private sector.

This was revealed through the transmittal letter sent by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Ilao is set to serve a term of four years or until July 9, 2020.

Reports said Ilao had engaged Duterte in a fistfight during their law school days at the San Beda College in Manila but became good friends after that.

Sereno is the head of the JBC, whose members also include the Justice secretary, representatives from Congress, academe, retired Supreme Court justices and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Duterte can name two SC magistrates by the end of the year as Associate Justices Jose Perez and Arturo Brion will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on December 14 and December 29, respectively. — VVP, GMA News