JBC grills court 'peacemaker,' two outsiders for Sandiganbayan top post

The anti-graft court's "peacemaker" who has no case backlog, an Interior undersecretary, and a provincial prosecutor comprised the second batch of candidates interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Thursday for the highest post in the Sandiganbayan.

Asked what qualities he would be able to contribute to the court, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz told JBC members, led by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, how he has earned the reputation of being the "peacemaker" at the Sandiganbayan.

"I am not sure why they approach me to patch up their differences," said a smiling Dela Cruz.

While some Sandiganbayan members have yet to reconcile with each other, he admitted being "happy" in helping bridge the gap between them. He also described the justices' differences as mere "tampuhan."

Asked how he plans to decongest the anti-graft court's dockets, Dela Cruz said he would ensure the speedy resolution of cases by preventing delays during trials.

"We will not allow postponement and strictly impose rules that only on justifiable ground will we allow postponements, especially when litigants come from the provinces," he said.

Dela Cruz boasted that the Sandiganbayan's First Division, which he chairs, has "zero backlog." He said if chosen, he would try to improve the image of the Sandiganbayan, and promote "leadership by example."

When asked how he would deal with people trying to influence him on cases pending with the anti-graft court, he said: "That is the problem, your honor. I have no connections."

"Once we ask favor from politicians or other sponsors, there is a probability that they will be coming back to us to ask for favors [in return]," he added.

Dela Cruz vowed to impose a system of rules in which "not anybody can just access members of the Sandiganbayan" in order to prevent undue influence on the justices.

He also said he was not aware of reports that some people trying to attend Sandiganbayan hearings are being "screened" before being allowed entry. He added that the public is very much welcome to attend the court's proceedings.

The Sandiganbayan's First Division has been hearing the plunder case against former President and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other officials stemming from the alleged misuse of P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

Dela Cruz was the one who signed the warrant of arrest against retired Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot in connection with the 11 counts of perjury filed against him by the Ombudsman for his alleged false declarations in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 1993 to 2003.

He also ordered last February the arrest of former Dinagat Island Rep. Ruben Ecleo Jr. and two other local officials in connection with their graft convictions in 2006.

DILG Usec Santos

For Interior Undersecretary Rafael Antonio Santos, being from the executive branch and not from the judiciary should not be considered a disadvantage for him.

"I may be regarded as an outsider but based on my experience, working in the executive branch, I can be exposed to bureaucracy. I've been exposed to processes, to systems... I am exposed to the DILG, law enforcements, to communities," Santos assured the JBC.

"So coupled with a reform agenda, these will help improve systems," said Santos, a graduate of industrial engineering.

Despite his experience, coming from the Department of Interior and Local Government, Santos claimed he would not have any difficulties adjusting to the nature of work at the judiciary.

"I'm a silent worker. I'm the type of person who does not appear in the media. I do all the paperwork. I make sure the department is running," he said.

"I go to work at 8 a.m. I go home maybe 8 or 9 p.m. On the weekends, I am with my family. I don't drive a European car.

"So it's not difficult for me to have that temperament to be in the judiciary," he said.

Abra prosecutor

Abra Provincial Prosecutor Nestor Tolentino, the last candidate to be interviewed on Thursday, admitted having not appeared in any courts apart from regional trial courts.

Tolentino also admitted not being familiar with the workings at the Sandiganbayan but said, "I can still learn new tricks."

"I have also proven my independence despite threats and pressure from politicians in Abra," he added.

Asked what he can contribute to the Sandiganbayan to help decongest its dockets, he said: "We have managed to declog our dockets [at the local prosecutor's office]. My office has not been lagging behind in the regional performance," Tolentino said.

Tolentino said he served as a clerk of court in Abra before becoming a provincial prosecutor in 1997.

Earlier in the day, the JBC interviewed two more candidates for the Sandiganbayan post: Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr. and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.

The JBC began its search for the next presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan following the mandatory retirement of Presiding Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr. last June 8, after he turned 70.

The council is expected to vote for the shortlist of at least three nominees and forward it to President Benigno Aquino III, who will select Villaruz's replacement, on July 1. — BM/YA, GMA News