Leonen named SC Justice; MILF welcomes his appointment

From MindaNews (Nov 21): Leonen named SC Justice; MILF welcomes his appointment

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has appointed government peace panel chair Mario Victor (Marvic) F. Leonen as the new Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a move welcomed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front with whom government signed the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro on October 15 in Malacañan Palace. “We welcome the appointment! My sincerest congratulations! He deserves it,” MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal told MindaNews in a text message. The President has yet to name Leonen’s replacement in the peace panel that hopes to finish with the MILF next month the annexes to the FAB on wealth and power-sharing and normalization. The Framework and the annexes complete the comprehensive peace agreement.  Leonen, who is turning 50 next month, was Dean of the University of the Philippines’ College of Law when he was named GPH peace panel chair on July 15, 2010, just two weeks after President Aquino’s oath-taking. Appointed at 47, he was the youngest GPH peace panel chair in the 38-year history of the peace negotiations with the Moro liberation fronts. He is the youngest Justice appointed to the Supreme Court since 1938. In a statement, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said Leonen’s appointment “will not affect the peace process in any negative way” because the negotiations are 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,” the statement read.....

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2012/11/21/leonen-named-sc-justice-milf-welcomes-his-appointment/