BANTAY KORTE SUPREMA SETS TRANSPARENCY REFORMS, MEETS
WITH CHIEF JUSTICE PUNO

Independent Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan along with members of Bantay Korte Suprema today met with Chief Justice Reynato Puno to concretize plans in ensuring transparency in Supreme Court appointments.

The Bantay Korte Suprema, a watchdog group of which Pangilinan is a convenor, focuses on the judiciary and the selection of the next set of appointees to the Supreme Court. The group hopes that the next set of appointed justices will be free from political influence.

"We hope to implement reforms and measures as soon as possible if only to ease the mind of our fellow Filipinos, knowing that the next Supreme Court justices will be impartial and not beholden to anyone's political agenda," Pangilinan said.

Some of BKS's proposed measures during the meeting are installation of webcams during Judicial and Bar Council hearing, tapping the Civil Service Commission for background investigation, publication of JBC members' votes, and access to transcripts via the internet.

Also present in the meeting were Attorney Katrina Legarda, UP College of Law Dean Marvic Leonen, Bobby Parel of the Philippine Bar Association, and Alberto Lim of the Makati Business Club.