Press Release
February 6, 2009

JBC OPEN TO BANTAY KORTE SUPREMA PROPOSALS -- KIKO

Independent senator and former Senate ex-officio member to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) Kiko Pangilinan expressed optimism about the new developments in the JBC's selection process for the next Associate Justices of the Supreme Court. The Bantay Korte Suprema met today with the Judicial and Bar Council to propose reforms. Kiko, who is convenor of watchdog group Bantay Korte Suprema, dialoged with JBC's Justice Regino Hermosisima to urge the installation of webcameras for the coverage of the interviews.

"Now that the JBC interviews are open to the public, the Bantay Korte Suprema proposes the installation of webcameras in the interview room for a nationwide broadcast. This is an innovative approach to giving the public the opportunity to watch the interviews. It is non-intrusive and respects the solemnity of the interview proceedings," said Kiko.

Kiko, who convened the Bantay Korte Suprema, said that the JBC welcomes the proposal of installing webcams in the interview room because the interview can be accessed through the JBC website. The proposal presents several advantages such as people from as far as Mindanao can now watch the interview through internet. Second, information from the interview will be unedited and raw, and third, the live audience in the interview room will be lessened hence there will be less commotion and the solemnity of the interview proceedings is maintained.

"The JBC is open to our proposals and has taken more progressive views towards reforms in the judiciary. I quote Justice Hermosisima, 'we have the same objectives, to select the brightest and most competent individuals for the position.' In this light, the Bantay Korte Suprema is willing to support the JBC in nominating the best and the brightest candidates. I'm glad that the JBC is going to take a step further in implementing reforms for a more competent and effective judicial system for the country," Kiko ended.

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