VACC nominates De Lima for Chief Justice post

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Monday gave a letter to the Judicial and Bar Council nominating Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in the position of chief justice to replace the removed Renato Corona.

VACC president Dante Jimenez said that they believe that there will be a faster dispensation of justice in the country and to help out victims of crime and corruption which give them more reason to nominate De Lima as the next Supreme Court chief, which is seen in one-page letter to members of the JBC.

Jimenez said De Lima demonstrated the supreme competency, diligence, honor and sovereignty to be able to dispense justice to everyone and to lead the judiciary on the new path.

He said that De Lima is the right person to lead the Supreme Court and perform the needed improvement in the judiciary at this point of the nation's history.

On the other hand, De Lima said she still have to speak with President Benigno Aquino before making pronouncement on whether to accept or reject the nomination.

The following were also nominated for chief justice: Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares, lawyer Katrina Legarda, former Ateneo Law Dean Cesar Villanueva, Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza, former UP Law Dean Raul Pangalangan and former Laguna Assistant Prosecutor Marianito Sasondocillo.

The five most senior associate justices of the Supreme Court are automatically nominated which are acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr., Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion and Diosdado Peralta. — ARA