InterAksyon.com
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MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court has granted Congress' motion for oral arguments on the representation of the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the constitutional body tasked to screen candidates for the judiciary.
The arguments, set on Thursday, August 2 at 9 a.m., will be presided by acting JBC chairman and Supreme Court Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta.
Last week, the two chambers decided not to participate in the JBC's screening of chief justice candidates until the Supreme Court resolves Congress' petition to allow one representative in the council for each House.
Earlier this month, the high court granted the petition of former solicitor general Frank Chavez, who questioned the "voting powers" of representatives from Congress in the JBC.
Chavez questioned Sen. Francis Escudero and Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas' inclusion in the eight-member council. He said that Section 8, Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution mandates that the JBC should be composed of only seven members with only a single member representating Congress.
In its ruling, the high court said it will let Congress determine who shall be its sole representative in the council.
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