The Judicial and Bar Council has transmitted to Malacañang its short list of applicants nominated for the post of Supreme Court (SC) justice.
This is to fill in the vacancy left by associate justice Priscilla Baltazar Padilla, who opted for early retirement.
In a letter dated January 12 and received by the Office of the Executive Secretary on Wednesday, January 13, the JBC enumerated the nominees who were shortlisted:
- Apolinario Bruselas Jr
- Amparo Cabotaje Tang
- Sedfrey Candelaria
- Ramon Cruz
- Japar Dimaampao
- Jhosep Lopez
- Jose Midas Marquez
- Maria Filomena Singh
The list consists of 5 Court of Appeals associate justices (Bruselas, Cruz, Dimaampao, Lopez, and Singh); Tang, who is currently Sandiganbayan presiding justice; Candelaria, who was former dean of the Ateneo Law School; and SC court administrator Marquez.
Padilla retired early in November 2020 “due to permanent and total disability.” She was appointed to the High Court by President Rodrigo Duterte in July that same year.
SC Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta – who himself is retiring early on March 27, 2021, or a year ahead of his mandatory requirement – endorsed the short list to the President.
Nominations for chief justice now open
The JBC also announced this week the opening of Peralta’s position for application or recommendation, to be done online as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
JBC said interested individuals should visit their website and access the Online Application Scheduler not later than the February 15 deadline.
The 5 most senior associate justices of the High Court are expected to get automatic nominations for the top post, but they have to write to the Council accepting the nomination. – Rappler.com
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