MANILA, Philippines -- Chief Justice Reynato Puno is inclined to support open voting of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) in choosing potential justices of the Supreme Court.

While he is still weighing the pros and cons, Puno said he is more inclined to support the open voting for transparency.

Aside from Puno, JBC member J. Conrado Castro, representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), and Senator Francis Pangilinan also support the open voting policy.

"An open voting policy will bestow on the Council Members that needed vestige of honor as they stand firmly behind the wisdom of their respective nominations. The transparency being espoused under the open voting policy promotes accountability, because the declaration of nominees and/or individual nominations effectively impels the Council Members to exercise utmost prudence and care in their selection and nomination responsibilities," Castro said.

The Supreme Court Appointments Watch (SCAW), together with the Bantay Korte Suprema (Supreme Court Watch), supports calls for open voting policy.

Aspirants to the position that will be vacated by Associate Justice Ruben Reyes include former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag, Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera, Court of Appeals Associate Justices Mariano Del Castillo, Juan Enriquez, Remedios Salazar-Fernando, Portia Aliño-Hormachuelos, Andres Reyes, Josefina Salonga and Martin Villarama, Sandiganbayan Justices Diosdado Peralta, Edilberto Sandoval and Francisco Villaruz and private lawyers Rodolfo Robles and Cesar Villanueva.

The JBC’s members are Puno, ex-oficio member, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Pangilinan, Dean Amadeo Dimayuga, J. Conrado Castro of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Representative Matias Defensor Jr., retired Supreme Court justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., and retired Court of Appeals justice Aurora S. Lagman.

Gonzalez has said he would prefer the JBC voting to remain secret.

Aside from Reyes, other justices who are retiring are Adolfo Azcuna, Dante Tinga, Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Leonardo Quisumbing, and Minita Chico-Nazario.

Associate Justice Alicia Austria-Martinez will retire this year.

Of the 15 Supreme Court justices, only Puno, Quisumbing, and Santiago were not appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Upon Quisumbing and Santiago's retirement next year, Puno, who will retire in 2010, will be the only non-Arroyo appointee left.