SC bets shortlisted

MANILA, Philippines—Justices from the Court of Appeals dominate the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) shortlist of nominees to fill the vacancies in the Supreme Court with the retirement of Associate Justices Antonio Eduardo Nachura and Conchita Carpio-Morales.

Court of Appeals Justice Jose Reyes and veteran lawyer Rodolfo Robles each received seven votes; appellate court justices Bienvenido Reyes and Magdangal de Leon each got six votes while appellate justices Estela Bernabe and Jaafar Dimaampao received five votes each.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., an ex-officio member of the JBC, said the nomination papers have already been signed by the members and may be forwarded to Malacañang today (Wednesday).

“Although the deadline is still far, I think it is to the interest of the judiciary to forward nominations to the [Office of the President] soonest and for the President to appoint,” he said.

The President has to fill any vacancy in the Supreme Court within 90 days of its occurring.