Legal education board chief’s CA bid blocked
Credit to Author: Jomar Canlas, TMT| Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2019 16:13:04 +0000
A group has blocked the application of Emerson Aquende, Legal Education Board (LEB) chairman, for a Court of Appeals (CA) post for his alleged disregard of academic freedom of law schools.
In a letter opposition to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which is headed by the chief justice, the Association of Law School of the Philippines (ALSP) said Aquende breached the constitutional right of law schools in the country.
The Manila Times learned that Aquende became LEB chairman through the prodding of then-JBC member Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, a known ally of ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and defeated candidate for president Manuel Roxas 2nd.
“We believe that his continuous encroachment [into] the constitutional right of academic freedom is enough basis for the honorable council to reject his application,” the group said.
Among the alleged constitutional violations of Aquende are: adopting the Philippine Law School Admission Test or PhilSAT and enforcing a prescribed passing score; obliging law schools to seek approval of summer courses, perform an activity during Law Week and submit law journals; and mandating a Master of Laws as qualification for deans and law professors before they can teach in law schools, a curriculum for all year levels and specifications for a law library.
Worse, the ALSP said, Aquende continued to sit as LEB chairman although his term has expired under the law.
Aquende was also criticized for issuing board memoranda and circulars without clearing it with the board; and failing to publish memoranda and resolutions in gross disregard of the constitutional requirement of due process and hold public consultations on those issuances.