6 CA, tax court seats open to aspirants

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened applications and recommendations for four vacant seats in the Court of Appeals (CA) and two in the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

In a two-page announcement dated Dec. 18 and signed by Supreme Court clerk of court and JBC ex-officio secretary Edgar Aricheta, the council gave all aspirants until 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 next year to submit the complete documentary requirements at the JBC office in Manila.

“All incomplete applications and/or out-of-date documentary requirements and those submitted beyond the deadline shall not be given due course,” the announcement read.

The vacancies in the appeals court resulted from the appointment of Justice Jose Reyes Jr. to the Supreme Court last Aug. 9, and the compulsory retirement of Justices Magdangal de Leon, Renato Francisco and Romulo Borja on Aug. 19, Aug. 20 and Sep. 11, respectively.

SALN requirement

On the other hand, the vacancies in the tax court was caused by the retirement of Justices Lovell Bautista and Caesar Casanova on Aug. 14 and Sep. 9, respectively.

Applicants currently in government service must submit their sworn statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for the last 10 years. Those coming from the private sector who never served in government should submit a SALN as of December 2017 only.

Under Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, or the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, and Republic Act No. 9282, justices of the CA and CTA shall have the same qualifications as justices of the Supreme Court.

The seven-member JBC is the constitutional body tasked with screening and vetting applicants for top positions in judiciary, as well as for the position of Ombudsman and his deputies.

For each vacancy, the JBC is required to come out with a shortlist of at least three nominees, from which the President shall make the appointment. —Jerome Aning