On upcoming SC vacancy

"I believe it would be to the best interest of the judiciary and the justice system for Justices De Castro and Villaruz to decline should they be nominated to the Supreme Court when a vacancy occurs with the retirement of Justice Cancio Garcia next month.

Justice Francisco Villaruz was one of the first appointees of the Arroyo administration and has had an illustrious stint in the Sandiganbayan. Justice Teresita de Castro has a second shot at an SC post this year, as she garnered the most number of the votes last year from the Judicial and Bar Council but was bypassed in favor of Justice Ong, then Justice Ruben Reyes.

They should decline, in spite of their admirable track record and go down in history as courageous men and women in robes who dispensed justice swiftly and honestly. It is the only ethical and morally thing to do if they wish to leave a legacy of integrity.

Their appointment should not come to pass if they do not wish to be under fire or under suspicion that it is a pat on the back for their passing verdict on the Estrada case. Not only is this the best decision, it is imperative in order to maintain the credibility of the Supreme Court and the Judiciary as a whole even. Legal ethics reminds us lawyers that a judge whose duty is to apply the law and dispense justice, should not only be impartial, independent and honest, but should be perceived as this as well, to remove any doubt. They should be like Caesar's wife, so the saying goes, as judges who are not only pure but above suspicion."