The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has to answer why Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno qualified for the post despite allegedly failing to disclose her wealth in full, former President Benigno Aquino III said on Monday.

"Kung sinasabi nila ngayon na kulang 'yung submissions, eh sila dapat sumagot dun," he said.

"Dahil nung ibinigay nila sa akin listahan eh qualified 'to. So 'yun na ngang hirap no, ibibigay sa 'yo ito listahan ng mga taong qualified o mamili ka dun. Pagpili mo, oo nga pala qualified. Ano ba talaga?"

• READ: Aquino, Sereno face raps over income declaration

Aquino stressed he could not meddle in the crafting of the shortlist for the chief magistrate.

"'Yung JBC sila dapat tumatanggap nung lahat ng submissions para sa qualifications at pati na rin 'yung position sa kanila pinapadala. Tapos 'pag natapos sila sa prosesong 'yun, nag-uusap sila sinong qualified sinong hindi," he said.

"At 'di ba nagkaroon ng mga kaso pati nung bago 'yung panahon ko na hindi ko sila puwedeng sabihin na ito ilagay niyo, eh iyan ang huwag niyo 'yang ilagay sa listahan. Ulit ha, sila magbibigay ng listahan na hindi ko puwede pakialamanan, lalo na ng presidente 'yung nasa listahan tapos dun ka lang mamimili."

Lawyer Manuelito Luna of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and suspended lawyer Eligio Mallari filed a graft complaint against Aquino, Sereno and 2 others before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Sereno allegedly failed to submit her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs) to JBC when she applied for the post. - report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News