MANILA — The Philippine Judges Association (PJA) expressed its support for the nomination of Court Administrator Midas Marquez as Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice.
In a letter addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte dated July 9, PJA president and Marikina Regional Trial Court Judge Felix Reyes stressed that Marquez is fit to be a magistrate of the High Court since he is a person of integrity and competence.
“We believe that Court Administrator Marquez possesses the necessary qualifications and experiences having been in the service in the Supreme Court for almost three decades in various position,” read the letter that Reyes signed.
The PJA also passed a resolution, signed by 30 judges-officials, pushing for the appointment of Marquez.
The group also sent its endorsement for Marquez in a letter to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), and copies of which were also sent to Duterte.
“Corollary, further resolve that the Philippine Judges Association and all its officers and members do hereby express, affirm, and stand by, the integrity and competence of Court Administrator Marquez to be the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Finally, resolve that copy of this resolution be furnished the Office of the President,” an excerpt of the resolution read.
The JBC has shortlisted Marquez for the SC post to be vacated by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. upon his retirement on August 8.
Aside from Marquez, others on the shortlist of nominees for Velasco’s post are Court of Appeals Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr., Amy Lazaro-Javier, Ramon Garcia, Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang and Ramon Hernando; and former Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva.
Marquez, who is vying for a seat in the 15-member high court for the third time, has been serving the SC for 26 years.
He started his career in the SC in 1991 as a law clerk for several justices, including retired Associate Justice Abraham Sarmiento, Senior Justice and former Philippine Judicial Academy chancellor Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, and retired Senior Associate Justice Josue Bellosillo.
Marquez finished both his degree in Economics and juris doctor degree at the Ateneo de Manila University. From being a legal clerk for several justices, he was eventually appointed court administrator in 2010.
He was also appointed SC spokesperson in 2007 during the term of retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno until the impeachment of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.
The President has 90 days to name Velasco’s replacement in the High Court. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
