Nominees to 6 new Sandigan posts trimmed down to 37

MANILA, Philippines - There are 37 names in the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC)’s shortlists of candidates for six new Sandiganbayan posts as provided under a law expanding the powers of the anti-graft court.

The seven-member body tasked to screen nominees to posts in the judiciary, selected the 37 from a total of 90 aspirants yesterday.

The council chaired by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno will submit six shortlists to President Aquino.

In the shortlist for the position of the 16th associate justice of the anti-graft court are regional trial court judges Philip Aguinaldo, Reynaldo Alhambra, Danilo Cruz, Benjamin Pozon, Danilo Sandoval and Salvador Timbang Jr.

For the 17th associate justice post, Judges Maryann Corpuz-Mañalac, Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega and Andres Soriano, assistant solicitor general Ma. Antonia Edita Dizon and Senate Blue Ribbon committee secretary Rodolfo Noel Quimbo are in the list.

In the shortlist for the 18th post are Judges Celso Baguio, Ma. Teresa de Guzman-Alvarez, Bernelito Fernandez, Elvira Panganiban and Fernando Sagun Jr. and Sereno’s staff member Zaldy Trespeses.

For the 19th post, the nominees are Judges Frances Guanzon, Marissa Macaraig-Guillen, Vilma Pauig and Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, assistant solicitor general Renan Ramos and Palace undersecretary Reynaldo Cruz.

In the shortlist for the 20th post are Judges Perpetua Atal-Paño, Thelma Bunyi-Medina, Luisito Cortez, Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig and Angeline Mary Quimpo-Sale, ombudsman director Bayani Jacinto and assistant solicitor general Karl Miranda.

Those in the shortlist for the 21st post are Judges Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan, Garaldine Faith Econg, Rosanna Fe Romero-Maglaya, Merianthe Pacita Zuraek and Victoria Fernandez-Bernardo and Malacañang undersecretary for special concerns Michael Frederick Musngi.

The vacancies stemmed from Republic Act 10660 or An Act Strengthening the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan, which the President signed on April 16.

The Sandiganbayan originally had three divisions before it expanded to five divisions of three members each in March 1995.

Under RA 10660, the Sandiganbayan will have a total of seven divisions with three members each.

The latest addition to the Sandiganbayan is Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, who was appointed in May to replace dismissed Senior Justice Gregory Ong.