SC JUSTICE? Government peace panel chairman and former UP Law Dean Marvic Leonen accepts his nomination for SC Associate Justice. File photo

MANILA, Philippines - Government peace panel chairman Marvic Leonen accepted his nomination for Supreme Court associate justice, bringing the number of contenders to the post to 10.

Leonen told Rappler on September 18, Tuesday, that he accepted his nomination because he can help continue the reforms in the High Court and that he wil be bringing in his background as a "public interest lawyer and academic." Leonen was dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law.

Leonen was nominated by former UP president Emerlinda Roman and human rights lawyer Pablito Sanidad.

He has previously been nominated to the post of chief justice but declined. "I knew there are other people who deserve the position," he said.

When asked why he joined the race for SC justice now, Leonen said that he would like to "serve the country in another way" following "breakthroughs" in the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. - Rappler.com

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