Guevarra turns down SC justice nomination

FILE: Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra was one of the resource persons during the continuation of the Senate inquiry on the controversial implementation of the GCTA law on Thursday (Sept. 5, 2019). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday declined his nomination to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Speaking before the Prosecutors League of the of the Philippines (PLP) NCR forum at Diamond Hotel in Manila, Guevarra said he had considered applying for the position as late as 2016 but said he has since realized that he prefers to be Justice Secretary, a position which he described as “good” and “exciting”

“Do you know the feeling of someone who has always desired a wonderful person to be his or her spouse in the future? But somewhere along the way, he bumps into someone else whom he likes and desires? So in 2016, I really considered applying to the Supreme Court as one of my legal options it’s one of my career options, but circumstances have thrown me in Padre Faura (Street), but not that part of Padre Faura, not near Taft Avenue but Padre Faura near Robinsons, and I found out it was good, it was exciting, so Justice Victorino thank you for nominating me, but I’m still in love with the DOJ. Marami pong salamat (Thank you so much),” Guevarra said.

The SC compound and the DOJ have their main entrances beside each other along Padre Faura Street across the Philippine General Hospital.

In a letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) dated Nov. 19, retired Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Raoul V.

Victorino recommended Guevarra for inclusion into the nominees for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Victorino pointed out Guevarra’s credentials (Ateneo Law, 2nd in the 1985 bar examinations) and the latter’s previous postings in the Cabinet, including as a member of the Philippine legal team in the arbitration case concerning the West Philippine Sea at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.

There are presently three vacancies in the SC following the retirement of Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza in September and Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin and Associate Justice Antonio Carpio in October.