No to midnight appointment
MANILA, Philippines – In 2002, Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan voted for Renato Corona’s appointment to the Supreme Court.
Pangilinan was then a member of the Judicial and Bar Council, which screens and vets aspirants for the judiciary before they are chosen by the President. The body voted unanimously to include Corona in the JBC shortlist.
Eight years after, in February 2010, Pangilinan signed a resolution saying that then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should not make a “midnight” appointment of a Chief Justice. The President is prohibited from making any appointments 2 months before the elections up until her term ends on June 30 (until the SC eventually ruled otherwise). Corona had by then just accepted his nomination for the position of SC Chief Justice.
Among those who introduced the resolution were Pangilinan’s partymates from the Liberal Party: then Sen. Benigno Aquino III, and senators Rodolfo Biazon and Manuel Roxas. They were joined by senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan, Jamby Madrigal, Aquilino Pimentel, Antonio Trillanes IV, Jinggoy Estrada and Edgardo Angara.
Age: 48
Education: Bachelor of Arts in English, Major in Comparative Literature, UP; Law, UP; Masters in Public Administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Professional background: Lawyer. He is a senior partner in Franco, Pangilinan, Tolentino, Ringler and Santo law offices, but is on leave.
Fraternity: Upsilon Sigma Phi
Senate committee: agriculture and food, and social justice, welfare and development
Current term: 2007-2013
Eligible for reelection? No. This is his second Senate term. His first term spanned the years 2001 to 2007.
Political party: Liberal Party
Senate bloc: He belongs to the LP bloc composed of Senators Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto and Teofisto Guingona III.
Position published or aired on Corona or on issues contained in the articles of impeachment:
After the Commission on Elections filed a case of electoral sabotage against Arroyo on Nov.18, Pangilinan said the high court should recall the temporary restraining order it issued enjoining the Department of Justice from enforcing its watch list order against Arroyo.
Pangilinan, like Drilon, has asked Corona to inhibit from cases involving Arroyo.
Citing the High Tribunal’s reversal on various cases (Article 3), Pangilinan said the High Court had brought “destabilization” on itself.
Pangilinan is one of the authors of Republic Act 9227, which provided special allowances to judges. The alleged failure of Corona to account for the special allowances is the eighth article of impeachment. – Rappler.com
Sources: www.kiko.ph, www.senate.gov.ph, www.gmanews.tv
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