Government negotiator with MILF won't abandon SC bid

THE country's top negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is ready to give up his post if given the chance to complete the 15-man Supreme Court (SC) next month.

Marvic Leonen, a former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law, is one of the 15 aspirants to the seat vacated by Maria Lourdes Sereno, who was promoted by President Benigno Aquino III to Chief Justice in late August.

"I will still vie for the position," he told Sun.Star, adding he is looking forward to be interviewed by the vetting body Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on October 25.

Set to be grilled as well at the SC division hearing room in Manila on the same day are former Regional Trial Court judge Adoracion Cruz Avisado, Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Magdangal De Leon, CA Associate Justice Isaias Dicdican, former Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla, CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr., CA Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr., and CA Associate Justice Noel Tijam.

Four candidates will be interviewed on October 23 while De La Salle University Law dean Jose Manuel Diokno, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Teresita Herbosa, and former Ateneo Law Dean Cesar Villanueva will no longer be quizzed since they had already been interviewed last July during the selection process for the next Chief Justice.

Leonen, who helped craft the roadmap for a final peace settlement with the Muslim rebels, has no qualms of leaving the panel currently preparing for another round of discussion in Malaysia for the agreement’s annexes on power and wealth-sharing and decommissioning of the MILF.

"There are so many people who are capable (of succeeding me), especially the members of my panel," he said.

Known for his advocacy of environment and indigenous people's rights, Leonen has a Master of Laws degree from the Columbia University in New York. He was a professor at the UP Law for 22 years until 2011.

Aquino has 90 days since the vacancy occurred or until November 24 to pick the new Associate Justice from the shortlist to be submitted by the JBC. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)