Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Two officials from the Aquino administration – an undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) close to Secretary Manuel Roxas II and an official from the Department of Justice -have been included shortlist of candidates to fill up three vacancies at the Court of Appeals.
DILG Undersecretary Rafael Santos is among the contenders in the shortlist to fill up the post vacated by Associate Justice Pampilo Abarintos while Witness Protection Program chief Martin Menez was among the candidates in top list to fill up the post vacated by Angelita Gacutan.
The retirement of Associate Justices Rosalinda Asuncion-Vicente, Angelita A. Gacutan and Pampilo Abarintos have created vacant positions at the Court of Appeals.
Santos, who first aspired for the Sandiganbayan post, aside from having close ties with Roxas also has connections with the Carpio, Villaraza and Cruz law office.
For the post vacated by Justice Vicente, included in the shortlist are Maria Filomena Dumandan Singh, Celso Opalo Baguio, Philip Acosta Aguinaldo, Perpetua Atal-Pano, Emmanuel Quisumbing Fernando and Wilfredo Tolentino Nieves.
Aside from Menez, included in the shortlist for the post vacated by Gacutan are Geraldine Catingub Fiel-Macaraig, Pablito Alhambra Perez, Jeoffre Wilkom Aceido, Cresencio Fortunato Ramos Balasbas, Ma. Celestina Cruz Mangrobang, Ma. Conchita Lucero-De Mesa and Gabriel Tadens Robeniol.
The shortlist of candidates for the post vacated by Abarintos, aside from Santos are Selma Palacio Alaras, Maria Amifaith Sarmiento Fider-Reyes, Jonel Sebastian Soto Mercado, Ruben Reynaldo De Guzman Roxas, Divinagracia Bustos-Ongkeko, Geralding Faith Econg and Alex Luna Monteclar.
The President has 90 days upon receipt of the transmittal letter to choose.
Related stories
Application Deadline Set for Court of Appeals Judge
Private sector executives form Roxas’ DoTC team
Roxas right-hand man vies for Judiciary post