Court of Appeals justice withdraws application for Supreme Court post

A Court of Appeals (CA) justice has withdrawn his application for an upcoming vacancy in the Supreme Court.

CA justice Stephen Cruz withdrew his application upon deciding to spending his last years before retirement with the appeals court, said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the Judicial and Bar Council, which screens aspirants to judiciary posts.

Court of Appeals Associate Justice Stephen C. Cruz has withdrawn his application for the position of SC Associate Justice. #SCJusticeInterviews

— Supreme Court PIO (@SCPh_PIO) June 26, 2019

Cruz's withdrawal brings down to 23 the number of applicants for the vacancy that will be created by the compulsory retirement of Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo on July 29.

The JBC interviewed the applicants across last Friday and on Tuesday and Wednesday, in which members of the screening council posed questions on topics ranging from sovereignty issues to marriage equality.

CA justices Oscar Badelles, Manuel Barrios, Ramon Bato, Jr., Apolinario Bruselas, Jr., Ramon Cruz, Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Garcia, Jhosep Lopez, Mario Lopez, Eduardo Peralta, Jr., Pablito Perez, Ricardo Rosario, Edgardo delos Santos, Maria Filomena Singh, Elihu Ybañez, and Rodil Zalameda, are trying out for the position.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justices Efren Dela Cruz and Alex Quiroz, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, former Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva, Bureau of Internal Revenue deputy commissioner Lanee Cui-David, and law professor Jeremy Benigno Gatdula also applied and faced the JBC.

The JBC will come up with a shortlist of applicants that will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte, the appointing authority. The Del Castillo vacancy will be the 10th associate justice post to open since Duterte became president in 2016. — BM, GMA News