CA justices dominate JBC shortlist for SC post

Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Justices from the Court of Appeals (CA) dominated the shortlist of candidates aspiring to replace a retiring Supreme Court (SC) associate justice.

During a regular meeting on Friday, members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) voted to choose their candidates that will fill the shortlist, which will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for perusal and approval.

SC Associate Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes is set to avail of a compulsory retirement on July 6, 2017.

Results of the vote are the following: CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. got a perfect score of 7 votes while CA Associate Justices Rosmari D. Carandang and Jose C. Reyes Jr. got six votes. CA Associate Justices Apolinario D. Bruselas Jr. and Japar B. Dimaampao as well as law Professor Rita Linda Ventura-Jimeno got five votes each while CA Associate Justice Amy S. Lazaro-Javier got four votes.

The JBC is composed of seven members chaired by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. It is constitutionally mandated to screen aspirants to the judiciary and the Ombudsman and has the privilege to submit its shortlist to the President for final determination.

Duterte has 90 days, from date of vacancy of the position, to choose among the shortlisted candidates to replace Reyes.

Reyes, who will retire in July, is one of Duterte’s fraternity brothers.

Duterte has already appointed two SC Associate Justices, namely Samuel Martires and Noel Tijam, who are both graduates of San Beda Law. JPV/rga

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