Department of Justice Secretary Benjamin Caguioa (UNTV News)
MANILA, Philippines – The Judicial and Bar Council started vetting candidates aspiring to be the newest magistrate of the Supreme Court, as replacement of Associate Justice Martin Villarama, Jr. who is retiring on January 16.
Applicants interviewed by the JBC on Thursday include: Atty Joe-Santos Bisquera; Atty. Cinchona Cruz Gonzales; Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang; Deputy Ombudsman Gerard Mosquera; CA Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas, Jr. and Rosmari Carandang; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Maria Cristina Cornejo; and Justice Sec. Benjamin Caguioa.
Given the position, Caguioa said he will be independent and will not be indebted to anybody even though he is a known classmate of President Aquino.
But when asked about the Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP, Caguioa replied without hesitation that he doesn’t agree with the Supreme Court ruling.
He said Aquino should not be charged in relation to dap because the president just exercised his discretion in the transfer of funds.
The secretary also commented on the opposition to his nomination as Supreme Court justice.
The JBC received a letter from one Ricardo Benamir urging the council to examine the motivation of Caguioa in issuing the order that allegedly clipped the powers of then Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison.
In Department Order no. 911 which he issued, Caguioa transferred to Associate Commissioner Gilberto Repizo certain powers which were originally part of Mison’s authority as immigration chief.
These include border controls and the authority to issue exclusion orders to detain undesirable aliens.
Caguioa maintained the orders were issued in good faith.
The secretary further said that he already tasked DOJ prosecutors to review the recommendation of the NBI against Mison and 17 others in relation to the alleged escape of Korean fugitive Cho Seongdae.
Caguioa assured Mison that he will be given opportunity to defend himself.
In a statement, Mison said he is prepared to face the allegations against him. (Roderic Mendoza/UNTV News)
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