JBC member faces disqualification in CTA bid

MANILA, Philippines — A member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) applying for a post in the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) is facing possible disqualification due to pending administrative cases.

Lawyer Milagros Cayosa, the JBC member representing the Integrated Bar of Philippines, was ordered by the council to explain why she should not be disqualified in her application for failure to disclose her pending cases before the SC.

The council gave Cayosa three days from receipt of notice to comply with its order issued last April 26. 

It specifically directed Cayosa to explain why she did not disclose two pending cases against her in the personal data sheet she submitted with her application for the CTA vacancies left by the retirement of Associate Justices Lovell Bautista and Caesar Casanova.

The cases involve the complaints of then House Justice committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali and senatorial candidate Larry Gadon for failure of Cayosa to do her mandate in screening ousted chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno despite the fact that she has incomplete submission of her Statements of Assets Liabilities and Networth. 

Cayosa is also facing another complaint filed by Supreme Court Justice Diosdado Peralta over the selection process for the position of presiding justice of the Court of Appeals after the JBC disqualified his wife, CA Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta, reportedly without due process.