JBC wringer for DOJ chief eyeing SC slot

Justice Secretary Benjamin Alfredo Caguioa’s Supreme Court nomination will go through the normal procedure at the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the constitutional body that screens and examine the qualifications of applicants for the position.

Justice department undersecretary and spokesperson Emmanuel Caparas said this amid speculations that Caguioa was the “front-runner” for the position, and likely to be chosen by Mr. Aquino as the two were said to be close friends and classmates at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Before he was appointed to the justice portfolio, Caguioa was the presidential legal counsel.

Caparas yesterday confirmed that Caguioa had assented to his being nominated for the position to be vacated by Justice Martin Villarama Jr. who has opted for early retirement in January.

Other candidates to the high court vacancy are Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, former Commission on Audit chair Grace Pulido-Tan, Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr., Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and party-list representative Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption;

Gerard Mosquera, deputy ombudsman for Luzon; chief state counsel Ricardo Paras III; Court of Appeals justices Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang, Mariflor Castillo and Stephen Cruz; Sandiganbayan justices Maria Cristina Cornejo and Alex Quiroz, Quezon City judge Reynaldo Daway and private practitioner Joe-Santos Bisquera.  Jerome Aning