JBC concludes interviews for SC associate justice post

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Wednesday concluded its interviews for the position of associate justice of the Supreme Court.

According to the SC, the interviews were conducted by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla,  former SC Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, Professor Atty. Nesauro Firme, and former Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) Associate Justice Erlinda Piñera Uy.

They were held from May 14 to May 16 and May 21 at the SC Session Hall.

This is in view of Associate Justice Mario Lopez's retirement on June 4.

The SC said that the candidates interviewed on the first day are Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justices Nina Antonio-Valenzuela, Ramon Bato, and Carlito Calpatura; UP College of Law Dean Darleme Berberabe; and tax lawyer Maria Rosario De Leon Bernardo.

For the second day, the candidates interviewed are CA Associate Justices Ramon Cruz, Maria Elisa Diy, and Myra Garcia-Fernandez; and CA Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta.

Also interviewed were CA Associate Justices Ronaldo Roberto Martin; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda; and Philippine Judicial Academy Vice Chairperson Maria Concepcion Noche for the third day.

The last candidates interviewed were CA Associate Justice Walter Ong; CTA Associate Justice Maria Rowena San Pedro; Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva Permanent Representative Manuel Antonio Teehankee; and court administrator Raul Villanueva. —LDF, GMA Integrated News