JBC to hold interviews in September for CA justice

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has scheduled a two-day public interview for the other 15 applicants for the position of Court of Appeals (CA) associate justice.

The post was vacated by former CA associate justice Socorro Inting, who was appointed as commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in May. 

Those scheduled for public interview on Sept. 4 are Manila City Regional Trial Court Branch 40 Judge Alfredo Ampuan; United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corp. director Emerson Aquende; MCRTC Branch 5 Judge Emily San Gaspar-Gito; Tanauan, Batangas RTC Branch 83 Judge Aida Santos; Pasay City RTC Branch 116 Judge RacqueIen Abary-Vasquez; Caloocan City RTC Branch 126 Judge Lorenza Bordios; San Fernando, Pampanga RTC Branch 42 Judge Maria Amifaith Fider-Reyes, and Tuguegarao City RTC Judge Raymond Reynold Lauigan. 

Those lined up for interview on Sept. 5 are Valenzuela City RTC Vice Executive Judge Emma Matammu; MCRTC Branch 41 Judge Rosalyn Mislos-Loja; Marikina City RTC Judge Acerey Pacheco; Bansalan, Davao del Sur RTC Judge Loida Posadas-Kahulugan; Quezon City RTC Judge Rosanna Fe Romero-Maglaya; Panabo, Davao del Norte RTC Branch 34 Dax Xenos, and Makati City RTC Branch 146 Judge Encarnacion Jaja Moya.

Ampuan is reportedly the brother-in-law of Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Dante Jimenez, who also chaired the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

Ampuan also handled the hazing-slay case of Horacio Castillo III but two respondents, John Robin Ramos and Juan Miguel Salamat, asked for his inhibition from the case.

The JBC encouraged the public to immediately report to the Council any complaint against any of the candidates. 

“The public may submit to the JBC a sworn complaint, report, or opposition against any of the aforesaid candidates either through personal delivery or mail addressed to the JBC Mezzanine, Centennial Building, Supreme Court, Padre Faura St., Manila, thru telefax no. 02-552-9607 or by email at [email protected] and [email protected],” the JBC said. 

The first batch of 15 candidates was previously interviewed. 

Inting, from Davao City, replaced former Comelec commissioner Arthur Lim who retired in February. She will serve the poll body until Feb. 2, 2025. 

Inting obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree, cum laude, at the Ateneo de Davao University in 1980.  

Before being appointed to the CA in 2009, Inting was presiding judge of the Manila Regional Trial Court for nine years, and Makati City’s Metropolitan Trial Court for almost three years.