7 Court of Appeals justices shortlisted for Supreme Court post

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has shortlisted seven Court of Appeals (CA) magistrates for the associate justice post in the Supreme Court (SC) left vacant by the promotion of now retired chief justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro last August.

CA Associate Justices Manuel Barrios, Apolinario Bruselas, Edgardo delos Santos, Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Garcia and Amy Lazaro-Javier topped the list after getting the votes of all six members of the JBC.

CA Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang also made it to the list after garnering five votes during council deliberations yesterday. 

The nominees were earlier shortlisted by the JBC for another vacancy in the SC left by the appointment of Ombudsman Samuel Martires in July.

The Constitution requires an associate justice of the high court to be a natural-born citizen, at least 40 years old, with experience as judge or in private law practice for at least 15 years and a person with proven competence, integrity, probity and independence. 

The JBC, which was tasked to vet aspirants in judicial posts, was chaired by acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio during the voting for the shortlist.

Other council members who joined the deliberations were Sen. Richard Gordon, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, retired SC Justice Jose Mendoza, lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa and retired judge Toribio Ilao. The council has no regular member yet from academe.

The JBC is also processing applications for the chief justice post left vacant by the retirement of De Castro last month. SC Associate Justice Noel Tijam is set to retire in January next year.  

The council will vote on the shortlist for the top judicial post on Nov. 23.