Philippines’ President Benigno Aquino (R) meets with Myanmar delegates headed by Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin (C) during a courtesy call at Malacanang palace in Manila, Thursday. — ReutersMANILA — Former Solicitor General Francisco “Frank” Chavez and former Makati Rep. Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin became the latest additions to the growing list of people being nominated to replace ousted chief justice Renato Corona, according to a report published in the GMA News, Thursday.

Both Chavez and Locsin served during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino — Chavez as solicitor general while Locsin, as Mrs. Aquino’s speechwriter and Information minister. 

Chavez was nominated by Manuel Baviera, organizer and founding member of the Whistle Blowers’ Association of the Philippines.

“An active and fearless trial lawyer for forty years, Atty. Chavez has been consistently in the forefront of fighting injustice, graft and corruption not only in government but also in the private sector,” said Baviera.

Chavez graduated cum laude  with a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of the Philippines. He served as the youngest solicitor general during the administration of the late former President Corazon Aquino.
He was a Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee for Law and Human Rights. 

He was likewise given the lifetime achievement award, “Tribune of the People,” by the National Union of People’s Lawyers and the Senate’s minority bloc.

Baviera said if ever Chavez gets appointed as chief justice, he “will no doubt immediately regain the people’s confidence in the judiciary by weeding out the so-called hoodlums in robes.”

Meanwhile, the Philippines — once one of the harshest critics of Myanmar’s human rights record — is praising the country’s reforms over the past year and is now seeking closer trade and political ties.

A spokeswoman for President Benigno Aquino III says the president met with Myanmar’s top diplomat in Manila Thursday.

Spokeswoman Abigail Valte says Aquino praised Myanmar’s reforms over the past year, which have included freeing its most famous political detainee, Aung San Suu Kyi.

She says Aquino also discussed with Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin how their countries can intensify political cooperation, trade, investment, agriculture and tourism. — Agencies