3 judges handling big cases among bets for CA posts

The judges handling the Maguindanao massacre trial, the government’s takeover of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, and the syndicated estafa cases against housing developer Delfin Lee are among the 44 candidates for four vacancies in the Court of Appeals.

Judges Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, Eugenio de la Cruz of the Pasay Regional Trial Court, and Ma. Amifaith Fider-Reyes of the San Fernando City, Pampanga RTC, along with the other nominees, will be interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council from June 29 to July 2.

In an announcement published last week, JBC ex oficio secretary Enriqueta Vidal said a total of 34 candidates would be interviewed. Ten other candidates, however, will no longer be interviewed as they were already interviewed by the JBC when they applied for other vacancies in the Judiciary.

Two of the vacancies at the Court of Appeals were caused by the death of Justice Michael Elbinians, senior member of the court’s 12th Division on Nov. 26, 2014, and the early retirement of Justice Rebecca de Salvador, chair of the 3rd Division, last January 31.

One seat was vacated by the compulsory retirement of Justice Hakim Abdulwahid, chair of the 4th Division last June 12. Another will be vacated upon the retirement on July 4 of Justice Isaias Dicdican, chair of the 9th Division.

Aside from Solis-Reyes, De la Cruz and Fider-Reyes, there are 33 other judges aspiring to become an appeals justice.

They are Arthur Abudiente, Danilo Cruz, Ma. Teresa de Guzman-Alvarez, Selma Alaras, Perpetua Atal-Pano, Celso Baguio, Anisah Amanodin-Umpa, Laarni Dajao, Geraldine Faith Econg, Genie Gapas-Agbada, Jose Bautista Jr., Divinagracia Bustos-Ongkeko, Lorna Domingo, Teodoro Fernandez, Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale, Danilo Sandoval, Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig, Alice Gutierrez, Vilma Pauig, Jeoffre Acebido, Roy Gironella, Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, Cesar Sulit, Rafael Crescencio Tan Jr., Salvador Timbang Jr., Merianthe Pacita Zuraek, Cesar Aganon, Ma. Celestina Cruz-Mangrobang, Zaldy Docena, Emma Matammu, Silvino Pampilo Jr., Edgar Dalmacio Santos, Andres Soriano, Kevin Narce Vivera, and Armando Yanga.

The remaining six candidates are: National Labor Relations Commission member Herminio Suelo, Department of Justice-Witness Protection Program director Martin Menez, and private practitioners Manuel Cabrera, Gina Ilao, Gabriel Robeniol and Crescencio Fortunato Balasbas.

The seven-member JBC screens aspirants for justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan; judges of the lower courts; and the Ombudsman and his deputies.

The council, chaired by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, is required under the Constitution to submit a list of at least three nominees for each vacant position. The President shall choose from the nominees within 90 days from the submission of the list.  SFM