JBC opens applications for SC seat

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has begun accepting applications for a seat at the Supreme Court (SC) which was vacated after Associate Justice Samuel Martires was appointed Ombudsman.

SC Clerk of Court and JBC ex-officio Secretary Edgar Aricheta announced that the JBC will be accepting applications and recommendations until September 3.

“The date of actual receipt by the JBC of applications and complete documentary requirements shall be deemed as the date of filing,” he reminded.

“The qualifications of applicants shall be reckoned from the said deadline,” he added.

Meanwhile, Martires is set to take his oath of office as Ombudsman before acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio this Monday.

Martires, who was supposed to retire from the SC in January next year, has already been granted optional retirement by the High Tribunal so he can assume the Ombudsman post.

The newly appointed Ombudsman is a law schoolmate of President Duterte at the San Beda College.

Martires became SC Justice last March and was the first appointee of Duterte at the High Tribunal.

Prior his appointment to the SC, Martires was an Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan and regional trial court (RTC) judge in Agoo, La Union.

He finished his law at the San Beda College and passed the bar in 1976. He took up Masters of Law at the University of Santo Tomas.

From 1976, he engaged in a private law practice for almost 13 years.

He was also a former assistant department manager at the now-defunct Ministry of Human Settlements from 1979 to 1984, and legal officer of the then Department of Public Works, Transportation, and Communication from 1976 to 1979.