SC dismisses disbarment complaint vs Carpio

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court junked a disbarment complaint against acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio on Frdiay, August 10. The complaint was filed by a losing litigant in a murder case.

In a special en banc session, the SC ruled that the disbarment complaint has no merit and could not be acted on because sitting justices could not be disbarred, only impeached. The SC had previously ruled in two administrative cases that incumbent justices could only be removed through impeachment. 

Lauro Vizconde filed a disbarment complaint against Carpio on August 6. He said Carpio — as one of the co-founders of the CVC (Villaraza, Cruz, Marcelo and Angangco) law office or The Firm — “influenced appointments” to various posts in the judiciary way back in 1992, when Carpio served as the chief legal counsel of then President Fidel Ramos.

He also said Carpio pushed for the impeachment and eventual removal of now dismissed Chief Justice Renato Corona. Corona was removed from office on May 29 for failing to disclose P183 million in peso and dollar bank deposits in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The SC dismissed the disbarment complaint, though, just in time for the finalization of the Judicial and Bar Council’s shortlist of nominees for the post of chief justice. According to its rules, the JBC — the body that screens and vets aspirants to the judiciary to the president — should disqualify candidates who have pending regular administrative and criminal cases. 

The same rule can lead to the disqualification of another contender for the highest post of chief justice: Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. The JBC, however, has yet to decide if it will disqualify De Lima, reportedly the choice of President Benigno Aquino III for the post, and two other candidates with pending cases.

Rappler learned that Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza has a pending administrative case at the Office of the Bar Confidant in the Supreme Court, while Securities and Exchange Commissioner chairperson Teresita Herbosa also faces an administrative case.

Presidential Commission on Good Governance chairman Andres Bautista likewise has a pending case against him which he indicated was “for mediation” in his personal data sheet.- Rappler.com 

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• JBC disqualifies De Lima from CJ race
• How JBC’s 5 votes can change the game
• 22 official candidates for Chief Justice
• JBC to interview CJ candidates starting July 24
• 25 accept nominations for chief justice
• Questions for chief justice candidates
• JBC should review process of choosing CJ
• Besides JBC, Palace has judicial search committee
• CONVERSATIONS: How should the JBC choose the next chief justice? #SCWatch