The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) have signed an agreement to strengthen transparency and integrity in the appointment of judges and other key legal officials.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) authorizes IBP representatives—through its local, regional, and national chapters—to conduct independent background investigations on applicants for judicial and legal posts, with the JBC providing applicant data and formally deputizing IBP members to assist in the vetting process.
JBC Regular Member and retired Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Erlinda Piñera Uy said the partnership safeguards the credibility of the selection process.
“This fortifies our shared mission to ensure that the selection process in the Judiciary, Office of the Ombudsman, and the Legal Education Board is guided by integrity, transparency, and excellence,” she said, adding that the ultimate goal is to recommend “only the most qualified, competent, and morally upright individuals to positions of public trust.”
IBP National President Atty. Allan G. Panolong, who co-signed the MOA, stressed that the agreement helps protect public confidence in the judiciary.
“This strengthens the gateway through which our public entrusts the awesome power of judgment to men and women who will decide actual cases and controversies, safeguard rights, and vindicate the rule of law,” he said.
He also urged prospective applicants to prepare not just their professional credentials but also their “conscience, cultivating humility, discipline, and unwavering commitment to service.”
Alongside the MOA, the JBC and IBP also adopted the Proposed Guidelines on the Deputization of IBP Representatives tasked to conduct background investigations.
The guidelines specify eligibility, responsibilities, and ethical obligations—including strict adherence to confidentiality, impartiality, and data privacy laws.
Follow Tan Briones & Associates on LinkedIn for more legal updates and law-related articles.