JUDGE JUDGE JEZARENE JEZARENE AQUINO:AQUINO:

ON THE ISSUE OF ON THE ISSUE OF CORRUPTION IN THE CORRUPTION IN THE

JUDICIARYJUDICIARY

Personal BackgroundPersonal Background

Interviewee’s Name: Judge Jezarene C. Aquino (Son of Justice Hilarion Aquino)

Date of Birth: Jan. 1, 1958

Date of Retirement: Jan. 1, 2028

Age: 51 years old

Family Background: Married with 3 childrenWife is a nurse at the United States3 Children (aged 21, 19, and 18 respectively) are all studying in college level at Manila

Professional Professional BackgroundBackground

Professional Background:

Has been in the practice of law for 24 years nowAppointed last April 25, 2006 Now serving at RTC Second Judicial Region, Branch 5, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

Present Income: Basic Salary of P30,000/month + Special Adjustment for Judges (SAJ) of P20,000/month (tax-free)

NOTE: -Metro Manila judges who receive a P20,000/month allowance from the local government on top of the basic salary and the SAJ-This allowance is derived from the local government’s allocation

How do you become a How do you become a judge? judge?

• Must be in the practice of law for at least 5-years Must be in the practice of law for at least 5-years

• File an application with the Judicial Bar Council (JBC)File an application with the Judicial Bar Council (JBC)

• Interview with the JBCInterview with the JBC

• The JBC will nominate at least 3 candidates to the PresidentThe JBC will nominate at least 3 candidates to the President

• The President will then appoint 1 among the candidatesThe President will then appoint 1 among the candidates

  

• Other requirements:Other requirements:– If formerly a lawyer – submit sample pleadings If formerly a lawyer – submit sample pleadings – If formerly a judge, applying for appellate practice – submit If formerly a judge, applying for appellate practice – submit

sample decisions sample decisions

How easy it is to raise a How easy it is to raise a family on their present family on their present

income from the income from the government? government?

HARD.HARD. The salary of judges today is not sufficient The salary of judges today is not sufficient

to raise a decent family. to raise a decent family.

But it was not a problem for Judge Aquino But it was not a problem for Judge Aquino since his wife is working as a nurse in the since his wife is working as a nurse in the US and that is their main source of living, US and that is their main source of living, not his profession. not his profession.

Why would there be Why would there be temptations to temptations to

corruption? corruption? Due to the Due to the low salary ratelow salary rate of government of government

employees and the high demands of the employees and the high demands of the capitalist marketcapitalist market

Degrading moralityDegrading morality of the different of the different personalities in the judiciarypersonalities in the judiciary

How do these How do these temptations differ temptations differ

according to the position according to the position of the individual within of the individual within

the government the government hierarchy? hierarchy? Local executives Local executives

There is a much higher temptation for There is a much higher temptation for corruption since they are directly handling corruption since they are directly handling funds in their hands. funds in their hands. 

JudiciaryJudiciary The only avenue for corruption would be in The only avenue for corruption would be in

making decisions, issuing TROs and/or making decisions, issuing TROs and/or injunctions, and the like. injunctions, and the like.

Analysis and Analysis and RecommendationRecommendation

What can be What can be improved? improved?

Seminar on ethics from the 1Seminar on ethics from the 1stst year of law year of law school up to 4school up to 4thth year year

  

Increasing salary per se will not answer the Increasing salary per se will not answer the problem of corruptionproblem of corruption It is a very subjective remedy. It is a very subjective remedy. It all depends on the persona and the morality It all depends on the persona and the morality

of that personaof that persona

END…END…

Thank You!Thank You!