2 justices from CA, Sandigan, 1 Cabinet member in JBC shortlist for SC post

MANILA, Philippines – Two justices from the Court of Appeals, two justices from the Sandiganbayan and a Cabinet member made it to the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) as nominees for the post left vacant at the Supreme Court by Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval Gutierrez who retired last Feb. 27.

Those who made it to the shortlist are Labor Secretary Arturo Brion, Court of Appeals Justices Martin Villarama and Portia Hormachuelos, and Sandiganbayan Justices Francisco Villaruz and Edilberto Sandoval.

According to sources, Brion and Villarama got eight votes each while Hormachuelos got seven. Villaruz got six votes while Sandoval got five.

The JBC shortlist will be submitted to Malacañang for the consideration of President Arroyo. It will be the President who will eventually select and appoint the new justice of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno is the concurrent JBC ex-officio chair. The ex-officio JBC members are Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, and Rep. Matias Defensor Jr., while the regular JBC members are retired SC justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., Dean Amado Dimayuga, retired Sandiganbayan justice Raoul Victorino, and Atty. Conrado Castro, who was reappointed ad interim. – Mike Frialde