By Benjamin B. Pulta
The Daily Tribune
The Daily Tribune
A public disclosure of the results of the psychiatric examinations of all applicants to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) may be taken up by the Supreme Court (SC) today, sources in the high tribunal said.
The source said the development arose after Associate Justice Arturo Brion’s request for the JBC to disclose his own psychiatric results was turned down by the collegial body.
SC Public Information Office chief Gleoresty Guerra could not confirm the source’s report. “We are not privy to the items in the agenda.”she told the Tribune yesterday when asked to comment on the SC’s plan to tackle the issue of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC)’s refusal of the re-quest of Justice Brion for his psychological-psychiatric test results.
A member of the JBC earlier confirmed that an investigation will be called on the alleged leakage of the psychiatric examination results of newly appointed Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, who reportedly had obtained a very unsatisfactory mark of 4, which JBC rules state automatically disqualifes Sereno from, being in the shortlist.
Jomar Canlas, of the Manila Times, broke the exclusive story on the low marks that Sereno had obtained from her psychological-psychiatric tests conducted by two psychiatrists and two psychologists.
His source whom he refuses to identify is unimpeachable, he stressed, refusing to disclose whether his source came from a member of the JBC, a Justice, or a member of the psychological-pychiatric team that had conducted the tests on the nominees to the High Court.
“There is a pending request of JBC member (Aurora Santiago) Lagman to investigate the leakage… from the start, we already said that it (psychological exam) is very confidential and we are concerned that it was allegedly leaked,” JBC member representing the academe Jose Mejia, told reporters yesterday.
“The JBC will preside over the investigation but we did not talk about the details on how the investigation will proceed,” Mejia stressed, adding that the JBC probe body may ask members of the media to participate in the investigation.
The JBC has no subpoena powers and cannot force any member of the media to testify on the alleged leakage.
Reporter Canlas, in a brief phonecall with Tribune, scoffed at any plan of the JBC to make him shed light on the copy he had obtained on the results of the psychiatric exam on Sereno, who was described in the test results as being “dramatic and emotional.” The report described her: “She appears energetic and all smiles and agreeable, but is despressive” and has mood swings which may impact on her decisions.
Sereno was also described as having “religious preoccupation in almost all significant aspects of her life.”
Already, she has announced to the entire nation and the world, who she claimed are witness to the fact that she was appointed by God as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as God has plans for the Filipino people.
Canlas dared Sereno, as well as the JBC to disclose the results of the psychololgical tests done on her and the other justices.
Canlas has also called on Sereno to sign a waiver on the results of her psychiatric test.
The JBC psychological exam is a requirement for all the applicants of judicial posts. The three-hour exam is composed of five batteries of tests that will determine the mental fitness of a candidate.
“JBC’s executive committee denied the request of Justice Brion. He requested it sometime last week. We have already relayed (the decision) to Justice Brion,” Mejia said.
The JBC insists the test results will remain confidential.
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But Mejia clarified that initiating a probe does not mean the council is confirming the results of Sereno’s psychiatric examinations.
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But Mejia clarified that initiating a probe does not mean the council is confirming the results of Sereno’s psychiatric examinations.
It was Mejia who had confirmed on Monday that there is a pending request for such an investigation from his co-member in the JBC, Justice Lagman.
The request was made after it was reported in the newspapers that newly-installed SC Chief Justice Sereno allegedly got a “failing mark” in the psychological test.
He said that the JBC accepted the letter-request of Lagman and that an investigation may be conducted.
He said that the JBC accepted the letter-request of Lagman and that an investigation may be conducted.
However, Mejia said the JBC members have not yet tackled the details of such a proposed investigation.
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