JBC to interview 7 bets for SC post

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is set to interview next week at least seven hopefuls vying for the Supreme Court (SC) associate justice post that will be left vacant with the retirement of Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe on May 14.

In an announcement posted on the official SC twitter account, the JBC said Maria Elisa Diy will be interviewed on April 5 along with Apolinario Bruselas and Ramon Cruz.

Other hopefuls are Fernanda Lampas Peralta, Geraldine Faith Econg, Ronald Roberto Martin and Maria Filomena Singh, who will be interviewed on April 6.

The JBC said the public may submit a sworn complaint, report or opposition against any of the candidates by sending a letter to their office in Manila City or through its official e-mail address [email protected] not later than 4 p.m. on April 11.

The JBC is a constitutional office that accepts, screens and nominates appointments to the judiciary headed by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo as ex-officio chairman.

In another development, Gesmundo reminded judges of their mission to dispense justice and observe the four judicial virtues – competence, integrity, probity and independence as part of their mission in dispensing justice.

“Let us always be reminded that being a judge is a lifetime discipline and training toward the faithful observance of these four virtues,” Gesmundo said in his speech during the Philippine Judges Association fellowship night on Thursday.

Gesmundo was accompanied by Justices Ramon Paul Hernando, Amy Lazaro-Javier, Jose Midas Marquez and Antonio Kho.

Court Administrator Raul Villenueva, SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka and other court officials also attended the event.