Mile Long eviction judge in shortlist for Sandigan

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City regional trial court (RTC) judge who ordered the eviction of the Rufino and Prieto-owned Sunvar Realty Development Corp. from the Mile Long property is included in the shortlist to replace the late Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Maria Cristina Cornejo. 

Judge Maryann Corpus-Mañalac has been nominated along with Tuguegarao City RTC Judge Raymond Lauigan, Baguio RTC Judge Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed and lawyers Dennis Patrick Perez, Perpetuo Lucero Jr. and Walter Ong.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will submit its list to President Duterte, who will appoint Cornejo’s replacement pursuant to Article 8, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution.

Last August, Mañalac issued the notice to vacate against Sunvar and its tenants following the resolution issued by the Court of Appeals in favor of the Office of the Solicitor General.

The Rufino and Prieto families own Sunvar and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which the President has been hitting for alleged bias against him in its reporting.

Cornejo had been on sick leave since June 13, 2016. She availed herself of disability retirement that became effective March 1 when she turned 66. 

She was supposed to retire on Dec. 13, 2020 upon turning 70, the mandatory age of retirement for members of the judiciary.

However, Cornejo died on Sept. 3 after she was diagnosed with colon cancer and other ailments based on her medical records.

Cornejo served as executive judge of the Makati RTC, Bar reviewer in remedial law and criminal law and a lecturer for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.

She assumed the position of associate justice on May 1, 2010. 

The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman. 

The council is chaired by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.