It’s payback time.

After years of assembling the “nuts and bolts” of the country’s peace talks, chief government peace negotiator Marvic Mario Victor Leonen has been named as new Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (SC).

Just an hour after President Benigno Aquino 3rd interviewed Leonen, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda announced the appointment in a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Leonen was interviewed by the President at 1 p.m. and was sworn into office around 4:20 p.m. even as Lacierda was confirming the appointment.

Lacierda said that the President appointed Leonen after having received the short list from the Judicial and Bar Council and interviewing each nominee.

“Dean Leonen had contributed significantly to the cause of a just, dignified, and lasting peace with our Muslim brothers and sisters while keeping with the spirit and letter of the Constitution,” he said.

The newest appointment to the tribunal fills the seat vacated by Maria Lourdes Sereno who was appointed as chief justice by the President to replace the impeached Renato Corona.

Leonen will serve as associate justice for 20 years and is the youngest ever appointed to the tribunal.

Moreover, Lacierda said that President Aquino views his appointment as a contribution to his vision of an empowered, independent, and reformist Judiciary.

“The appointment of Dean Leonen is one that the President views as a lasting legacy of his administration, consistent with his desire of a Judiciary imbued with the highest standards of independence, probity and integrity,” he said.

“A revitalized Supreme Court, with the renewed confidence and public trust of our people, is essential to the fulfillment of the President’s Social Contract with the Filipino People: a truly impartial judicial system that delivers equal justice to rich or poor,” he added.

Leonen, 49, is chairman of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Panel and former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law. He received his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines and Master of Laws from the Columbia University in New York.

Peace process continues
Lacierda nonetheless said that peace negotiations with the MILF will continue even if Leonen is no longer part of the peace panel.

“The Peace process panel will continue. There will be a new chairman of the government peace panel,” Lacierda said, adding that the MILF chief Mohagher welcomed the appointment of Leonen.

Lacierda said that Iqbal himself wrote a formal letter to the President endorsing Leonen to the SC post. He added that Iqbal said that the MILF peace panel will continue to work with the new government chief negotiator.

Likewise, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles said that this development will not affect the peace process in any negative way.

“GPH negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is on track and moving towards the completion of the Comprehensive Agreement by the end of the year. OPAPP and the Panel are ready to ensure the necessary leadership for the Panel to successfully complete its tasks,” she said.

Peace panel welcomed
Likewise,on behalf of the government peace panel, Deles lauded Leonen’s appointment to the SC post saying the High Tribunal gains a member with a deep understanding of the Constitution and our nation’s historic journey to peace.

“We congratulate Dean Marvic Leonen on his appointment as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, knowing fully well the exceptional leadership, integrity, and competence that he will bring to the highest court. This is indeed a major gain in our continuing journey for peace and justice,” she said.

Deles added that the replacement of Justice Leonen as chief negotiator will follow the usual process of selection and will be announced accordingly.

“We will be submitting our recommendation to the President shortly,” she added.