SC comes out with 'Top 3' recommendees for vacancy

MANILA , Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday forwarded to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) its top three choices for a High Court position to be vacated in January 2009. In an en banc meeting, the justices voted for Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Martin Villarama and Ateneo School of Law Dean Cesar Villanueva as the top three contenders. Villaruz garnered 10 votes while Villarama and Villanueva both gathered eight votes. SC spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said it is up to the JBC to consider the Tribunal’s recommendations as he cited Rule 8.1, which states that the “In every case involving an appointment to a seat in the Supreme Court, the JBC shall give due weight and regard to the recommendees of the Supreme Court." The JBC is a constitutionally-created body that vets, screens, and recommends appointees to the President for vacancies in the Supreme Court and the lower courts. Aside from Villanueva, Villarama, and Villaruz, the bar council is also considering eight other contenders for the SC post to be vacated by retiring Associate Justce Ruben Reyes in 2009. The eight other aspirants include: CA Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Juan Enriquez, Remedios Salazar-Fernando, Portia Hormachuelos, Andres Reyes, and Josefina Salonga, Sandiganbayan presiding justice Diosdado Peralta, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Edilberto Sandoval. The JBC earlier dropped Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera and former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag from its shortlist because of their pending cases. Lawyer Rodolfo Robles is also disqualified because he exceeded the age limit of 65 years. The eight-member JBC has set for next week its open voting for the nominees. - With Carlo Lorenzo, GMANews.TV