JBC to select 6 Sandiganbayan justices from 90 hopefuls

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is set to select who among the 90 candidates for six vacant Sandiganbayan posts would make it in the shortlist.

Lawyer Jose Mejia, JBC member for the academe, said the seven-member panel would be voting on the shortlist Monday next week, on October 26.

President Benigno Aquino III will have to choose from the shortlist the six new Sandiganbyan justices that would make up the two new divisions created at the anti-graft court.

Interviews were held last Sept. 28, 29 and 30 and Oct. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 12 as part of the screening process, according to Mejia.

Among the prominent nominees for the posts are Maguindanao massacre Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, Undersecretary for special concerns Michael Frederick Musngi, Assistant Solicitor General Karl Miranda, Ombudsman lawyer Rudiger Falcis II, and Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program Director Martin Menez.

The other candidates who were interviewed last September and this October were: Philip Aguinaldo, Elmo Alameda, Ma. Lourdes Alarcon-Leones, Reynaldo Alhambra, Tita Alisuag, Rowena Apao-Adlawan, Juanita Areta, Edgar Avila, Ma. Rita Bascos-Sarabia, Ana Celeste Bernad, Lily Biton, Thelma Bunyi-Medina, Ofelia Calo, Evangeline Castillo-Marigomen, Edwin Carillo, Maryann Corpuz-Mañalac, Luisito Cortez, Reynaldo Cruz, Ma. Celestina Cruz-Mangrobang, Henry Damasing, Isaac De Alban, Ma. Antonio Edita Dizon, Bernelito Fernandez, Victoria Fernandez-Bernardo, Evelyn Gamotin-Nery, Vicente Gengos Jr., Teodora Gonzales, Frances Guanzon, Georgina Hidalgo, Bayani Jacinto, Wilhelmina Jorge – Wagan, Globert Justalero, Robert Kallos, Virgilio Macaraig, Marissa Macaraig-Guillen, Linda Malenab-Hornilla, Cynthia Mariño-Ricablanca, Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, Rosalyn Misloos-Loja, Ma. Clarissa Pacis-Trinidad, Silvino Pampilo Jr., Elvira Panganiban, Tita Marilyn Payoyo-Villordon, Esperanca Isabel Poco-Deslate, Rodolfo Noel Quimbo, Renan Ramos, Felix Reyes, Caroline Rivera – Colasito, Efren Santos, Primo Sio Jr., Rowena Tan, Buenaventura Albert Tenorio Jr., Fernando Sagun Jr., Rowena Turingan-Sanchez, Ma. Bernardita Santos and Zaldy Trespeses.

The other nominees who no longer faced the JBC because they were already interviewed for nomination in other posts earlier this year were: Arthur Abundiente, Jeoffre Acebido, Cesar Aganon, Selma Alaras, Perpetua Atal-Paño, Celso Baguio, Jose Bautista Jr., Divinagracia Bustos-Ongkeko, Danilo Cruz, Ma. Teresa De Guzman-Alvarez, Zaldy Docena, Lorna Navarro Domingo, Garaldine Faith Econg, Teodoro Fernandez, Ma. Amifaith Fider-Reyes, Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig, Alice Gutierrez, Vilma Pauig, Angeline Mary Quimpo-Sale, Gabriel Robeniol, Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, Danilo Sandoval, Edgar Dalmacio, Andres Bartolome, Esteban Tacla Jr. Salvador Timbang Jr., Kevin Narce Vivero, Merianthe Pacita Zuraek.

Nominations and applications for the newly created Sandiganbayan posts were opened by the JBC in July.

The new posts were created under Republic Act 10660 or "An Act Strengthening the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan," which President Benigno Aquino III signed on April 16.

The law created two additional Sandiganbayan divisions and brought to 21 the total number of sitting anti-graft justices. The six new justices will form the two additional divisions each having three members.

The Sandiganbayan is currently composed of 15 justices, the most junior member being Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, who was appointed last May to replace dismissed senior magistrate Gregory Ong.

The Sandiganbayan, which resolves cases of corruption against government officials, originally had three divisions until it expanded to five divisions with three members each in March 1995.

The seven-member JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen applications for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.

The council is currently chaired by Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, with ex-officio members Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and a representative each from Senate and the House of Representatives.

Completing the council are regular members retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Aurora Lagman representing the private sector, lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, retired Supreme Court Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, and Mejia. —NB, GMA News