JBC submits shortlists for CA, Sandigan posts

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) released Friday a list of candidates for vacant positions at the Court of Appeals (CA) and the Sandiganbayan.

A total of seven candidates are vying for the vacancy at the CA while there are five nominees for the vacant post at the anti-graft court.

The seven candidates shortlisted for the CA are the following: Gregorio Dela Peña (five votes); Walter Ong (five votes); Joselito Vibandor (five votes); Merianthe Pacita M. Zuraek (five votes); Jeoffre Acebido (four votes); Anisah Amanodin-Umpa (four votes) and Tita Marilyn Payoyo-Villordon (four votes).

The chosen candidate will replace the seat to be vacated by Associate Justice Francisco Acosta who is set to retire on April 2.

For the vacancy at the Sandiganbayan, the following were shortlisted: Philip Aguinaldo, Maryann Corpus-Mañalac, Danilo Cruz, Bayani Jacinto and Rosanna Fe Romero-Maglaya. All these candidates got four votes.

The chosen candidate will assume the post vacated by Associate Justice Roland Jurado who retired on Feb. 1, 2017.

Their names have already been submitted for the consideration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under the Constitution, Duterte has 90 days from the official submission of the list to the Office of the President to fill the vacancies.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is the ex officio chairperson of the JBC while the ex officio members are Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Sen. Richard Gordon and Rep. Reynaldo Umali. The latter two are on a term-sharing agreement.

The JBC regular members are: Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez who represents retired Supreme Court justices, Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Jove Mejia representing the academe and Toribio Ilao who represents the private sector.