JBC member seeking CTA post told: Answer Larry Gadon’s allegation

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has ordered one of its member, lawyer Milagros Cayosa, to answer a letter of senatorial bet Larry Gadon questioning her application as justice of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).  

The seven-member council tasked to screen nominees to judicial posts asked Cayosa to submit her response to Gadon’s allegation within five days from receipt of notice.

The JBC will deliberate next month on the CTA posts left vacant by the retirement of Associate Justices Lovell Bautista and Caesar Casanova.

Gadon opposed the application of Cayosa, who represents the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in the JBC, for alleged lack of qualifications for CTA justice.

He accused Cayosa of lying when she testified during the impeachment hearings of ousted chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno in the House of Representatives.

 Cayosa claimed that Sereno complied with the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) requirement when she applied for the chief justice post in 2012.

“It turned out that Sereno submitted only three out of the minimum requirement of 10 SALNs,” Gadon said.

“Cayosa committed irregularities when she accepted the incomplete SALNs of Sereno,”he added.

Gadon said the JBC member lacks eligibility because she has no experience as a lower court judge.

He explained that as member of the JBC, Cayosa has “undue advantage among the other applicants.”

Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin chairs the JBC with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and Sen. Richard Gordon as ex-officio members.

Aside from Cayosa, other members of the council are retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Mendoza, retired SC Justice Noel Tijam and retired Judge Toribio Ilao.