LOCAL Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday shrugged off insinuations regarding his endorsement of a deputy to become the next Presiding Justice of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.
He said he cannot stop Local Government Undersecretary Rafael Santos from joining the judiciary.
"Sinusuportahan ko siya, maayos ang kanyang trabaho, sa haba ng aming pagsasama sa DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) at saka sa DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) ay wala kang masasabi. Walang mantsa, walang bahid ang kanyang pagserbisyo," he told reporters after the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) meeting at the Supreme Court.
Corporate lawyers opposed Santos' candidacy for his links to Roxas and former law office Carpio, Villaraza and Cruz Law Offices or "The Firm," whose main partners occupied high posts in the Arroyo administration before they distanced from the unpopular regime over the issue of charter change in 2006.
Roxas is a client of "The Firm."
At least three out of nine nominees are expected to be endorsed on July 29 by the vetting body Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to President Benigno Aquino III, who will pick the new Sandiganbayan chief.
Meanwhile, the JSCC discussed issues affecting the justice sector including case decongestion, jail decongestion, service of processes, and overstaying detainees.
Present at the meeting were Roxas, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.
"I think they were happy, very satisfied with the way the meeting was conducted. The meeting ended with executive session. I'm not privy to what was discussed," said SC spokesperson Theodore Te.
A joint declaration may be issued on Thursday once the technical staff are done with the draft which will be circulated to JSCC leaders for signature.
The council last met in 2011. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)