COA chief Grace Pulio-Tan included in JBC shortlist

COA Chair Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Commission on Audit (COA) chairman Grace Pulido-Tan is among those included in the shortlist of candidates vying for the Supreme Court post vacated by Associate Justice Roberto Abad.

Aside from Tan who got five votes from the screening body Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), others in the shortlist are Court of Appeals (CA) Justices Jose Reyes, Jr. and Apolinario Bruselas who both got six votes each, and Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Reynaldo Daway who got four votes.

The names have been submitted to President Aquino III who has until late August to pick Justice Abad’s replacement. Abad retired at a mandatory age of 70 last May 22.

Abad’s successor will be the fifth Aquino appointee in the High Court, apart from Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Bienvenido Reyes, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic Leonen.