Court of Appleal's Villarama tops JBC short list for Supreme Court

Two Court of Appeals justices, two Sandiganbayan justices and a law school dean made it yesterday to the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to replace retiring Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruben Reyes.

Reyes will retire on Jan. 3 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.

A Supreme Court source said the shortlist contains the names of CA Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr., who got seven votes in the eight-member JBC panel; Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva; CA Associate Justice Portia Alino-Hormachuelos; Sandiganbayan Justice Francisco Villaruz and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Diosdado Peralta, each of whom got five votes from the JBC members.

Members of the JBC panel include Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor Jr, retired SC Justice Regino Hermosisima, retired Justice Aurora Santiago, Dean Amado Dimayuga and lawyer Conrado Castro.

Gonzalez told reporters the shortlist will be immediately forwarded to President Arroyo for her review and scrutiny.

Mrs. Arroyo will then have 90 days to choose Reyes’s replacement.

Former internal revenue commissioner Mario Buñag was cleared by the Office of Ombudsman of his three pending administrative and criminal cases, he added.

Gonzalez said the JBC is still awaiting word from the anti-graft agency on the graft case filed by former Ilocos Norte Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson against Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera.

However, Buñag did not make it to the JBC shortlist, he added.

Devanadera will be automatically included in the JBC shortlist for the replacement of Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna who will be retiring on Feb. 19, 2009, Gonzalez said.