9 candidates applied to be SC associate justice

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—There are nine names vying to be the next associate justice of the Supreme Court, the post that was vacated by Maria Lourdes Sereno after she was appointed Chief Justice.

Applicants include Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes, junior Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Bato and Securities and Exchange Commission Teresita Herbosa, who was also one of the nominees for the Chief Justice post.

Out of the 10 nominees for the post, Court of Appeals Associate Justices Noel Tijam, Magdangal De Leon and Isaias Dicdican, former Ateneo Law Dean Cesar Villanueva, De La Salle Law Dean Jose Manuel Diokno and former Davao City Regional Trial Court Judge Adoracion Avisado confirmed their nomination.

Villanueva and Diokno were also nominated for the Chief Justice post but only Villanueva was included on the shortlist.

Other nominees who did not confirm their nomination are GRP-MILF Peace Panel Chair Marvic Leonen, former Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, National Labor Relations Commission Presiding Commissioner Joseph Gerald Mabilog and Supreme Court’s chief attorney Edna Dino.

Only Dino declined the nomination. But the other nominees cannot be considered candidate unless they confirm their nomination. Leonen and Lotilla was also nominated for the Chief Justice post but declined.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has not set a date for the public interview. But those previously interviewed, including Herbosa, Villanueva and Diokno, need not go through the public interview for this particular position.

President Benigno Aquino III has until November 22 to appoint from the shortlist, which will be submitted to him by the JBC.

The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen applicants for the judiciary and Ombudsman post and submit a shortlist of candidates to the President.