19 vie for vacancy at Supreme Court

President Arroyo’s former Palace chief of staff and a former head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are among the 19 nominees to the lone vacancy in the 15-member Supreme Court.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is set to deliberate on the qualifications of the nominees, including former Palace chief of staff Renato Corona and Comelec chief Harriet Demetriou.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, ex-officio member of the JBC, asked the public to submit to the council by March 11 any information about the candidates.

Apart from Corona and Demetriou, the nominees are Loreto Ata, Ruben Ba-lane, Arturo Brion, Romeo Callejo Sr., Cancio Garcia, Godardo Jacinto, Delilah Magtolis, Maria Alicia Martinez, Conchita Carpio, Rodolfo Palattao, Raul Pangalangan, Dario Rama, Ruben Reyes, Edilberto Sandoval, Conrado Vasquez Jr., Eubolo Verzola and Rogelio Vinluan.

After its evaluation, the JBC will submit a list of the top nominees to President Arroyo for her selection.

Information about the nominees may be forwarded to the JBC secretariat, Supreme Court, Padre Faura, Manila, or through fax no. 525-3208. – Efren Danao