Shades of presidential race: 90 vying for 6 new Sandigan posts

MANILA, Philippines - It’s almost like the 2016 presidential race, where a whopping 130 people are eyeing the country’s top post. In this case, 90 people are vying for six positions in the country’s anti-graft court. 

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has set for next week its voting on the shortlists of names for six new posts in the Sandiganbayan created by law signed by President Aquino last April expanding the powers of the anti-graft court.

Jose Mejia, member of the seven-member body tasked to screen nominees to posts in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman, said they have set the deliberations next Monday, Oct. 26.

Mejia, who represents academe in the council, said a total of 90 candidates are vying for the vacancies in the two new divisions of the Sandiganbayan.

Among the nominees for the six posts are Undersecretary for special concerns Michael Frederick Musngi, assistant solicitor general Karl Miranda, ombudsman lawyer Rudiger Falcis II, Department of Justice witness protection program director Martin Menez and Maguindanao massacre Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.

Interviews were held last Sept. 28, 29 and 30 and Oct. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 12 as part of the screening process, Mejia revealed.

The other candidates – mostly lower court judges – who faced the council in the interviews were: Philip Aguinaldo, Elmo Alameda, Ma. Lourdes Alarcon-Leones, Reynaldo Alhambra, Tita Alisuag, Rowena Apao-Adlawan, Juanita Areta, Edgar Avila, Ma. Rita Bascos-Sarabia, Ana Celeste Bernad, Lily Biton, Thelma Bunyi-Medina, Ofelia Calo, Evangeline Castillo-Marigomen, Edwin Carillo, Maryann Corpuz-Mañalac, Luisito Cortez, Reynaldo Cruz, Ma. Celestina Cruz-Mangrobang, Henry Damasing, Isaac de Alban, Ma. Antonio Edita Dizon, Bernelito Fernandez, Victoria Fernandez-Bernardo, Evelyn Gamotin-Nery, Vicente Gengos Jr., Teodora Gonzales, Frances Guanzon, Georgina Hidalgo, Bayani Jacinto, Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan, Globert Justalero, Robert Kallos, Virgilio Macaraig, Marissa Macaraig-Guillen, Linda Malenab-Hornilla, Cynthia Mariño-Ricablanca, Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, Rosalyn Misloos-Loja, Ma. Clarissa Pacis-Trinidad, Silvino Pampilo Jr., Elvira Panganiban, Tita Marilyn Payoyo-Villordon, Esperanca Isabel Poco-Deslate, Rodolfo Noel Quimbo, Renan Ramos, Felix Reyes, Caroline Rivera-Colasito, Efren Santos, Primo Sio Jr., Rowena Tan, Buenaventura Albert Tenorio Jr., Fernando Sagun Jr., Rowena Turingan-Sanchez, Ma. Bernardita Santos and Zaldy Trespeses.

The other nominees who no longer faced the JBC because they were interviewed for nomination in other posts earlier this year were: Arthur Abundiente, Jeoffre Acebido, Cesar Aganon, Selma Alaras, Perpetua Atal-Paño, Celso Baguio, Jose Bautista Jr., Divinagracia Bustos-Ongkeko, Danilo Cruz, Ma. Teresa de Guzman-Alvarez, Zaldy Docena, Lorna Navarro Domingo, Garaldine Faith Econg, Teodoro Fernandez, Ma. Amifaith Fider-Reyes, Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig, Alice Gutierrez, Vilma Pauig, Angeline Mary Quimpo-Sale, Gabriel Robeniol, Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, Danilo Sandoval, Edgar Dalmacio, Andres Bartolome, Esteban Tacla Jr., Salvador Timbang Jr., Kevin Narce Vivero, Merianthe Pacita Zuraek.

The JBC opened last July the nomination and application for the six newly created positions for associate justice that would constitute the two additional divisions of Sandiganbayan.

The vacancies were created by virtue of Republic Act 10660 or “An Act Strengthening the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan” signed into law by Aquino last April 16.