KIKO TO GMA: HASTEN APPOINTMENT OF
CHIEF JUSTICE AS SC FACES CON-ASS

Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan today called on President Arroyo to appoint immediately the new chief justice of the Supreme Court who will replace Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban when he vacates the position on December 7, 2006.

"We call on the President to expedite the appointment of the new chief justice as Chief Justice Panganiban retires in a few days and the Supreme Court needs to address critical issues such as the Constituent Assembly, in full gear. We trust that President Arroyo will choose the new chief justice on the basis of who can serve the Filipino people best, as our citizens are the ones who truly hold the power in this country," Kiko said.

Upon the motion of Rep. Simeon Datumanong, majority of the Judicial and Bar Council voted to dispense with the public interviews for the chief justice, 7 in favor and 1 dissenting. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Pangilinan.

Senator Kiko abstained during the vote for a short-list of nominees. The four nominees in the said list are Justices Puno, Quisumbing, Gutierrez and Ynares-Santiago.