JBC nominates 9 for SC post

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has nominated nine applicants for the post of associate justice of the Supreme Court (SC), replacing justice Alexander Gesmundo who was appointed chief justice last April 5.

In a letter to President Duterte, the JBC identified the nine nominees as Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang; former Ateneo de Manila University law dean Sedfrey Candelaria and Court of Appeals Associate Justices Ramon Cruz and Japar Dimaampo.

The JBC also said that Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Geraldine Faith Econg and Rafael Lagos made it to the shortlist along with SC court administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh and SC deputy court administrator Raul Villanueva.

JBC is a constitutional office that accepts, screens and nominates appointments to the judiciary.

The SC said on its twitter account (@SCPh_PIO) that Malacañang received on Friday the JBC shortlist of nominees for the position of SC associate justice.

President Duterte has 90 days from April 5, the date the post was vacated, or until the first week of July to name his appointee.