9 nominees vie for 2 vacancies in CA, Sandigan
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has listed nine final nominees for the two vacancies in the Court of Appeals (CA) and Sandiganbayan.
The seven-member council tasked to vet nominees to judicial posts submitted to the Palace two separate shortlists for the CA and Sandiganbayan vacancies after deliberations last Friday.
The positions were left vacant following the promotion to the Supreme Court of Associate Justices Noel Tijam and Samuel Martires earlier this year.
The shortlist for the CA vacancy for Tijam’s post has four nominees: Regional Trial Court Judges Ma. Cristina Cruz-Mangrobang of Manila and Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale of Quezon City, and lawyers Merianthe Pacita Zuraek and Walter Ong, brother of dismissed Sandiganbayan Justice Gregory Ong.
On the other hand, there are five nominees in the shortlist for the Sandiganbayan for Martires’ post: Judges Maryann Corpus-Mañalac of Makati RTC, Kevin Narce Vivero of Antipolo RTC, Olivia Escubio-Samar of Malolos RTC and Rosanna Fe RomeroMaglaya of Quezon City RTC; and lawyer Josephine Capio Caranzo.
Mañalac is the judge who ordered Sunvar Realty Development Corp. of the Rufino and Prieto families last week to vacate the Mile Long property in Makati City.
Martires and Tijam were appointed by President Duterte in the SC last March to replace Associate Justice Jose Perez and Arturo Brion, respectively, who both re- tired from the judiciary last December.
There are two more vacancies in the CA and Sandiganbayan following the recent promotions of CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo to the high court.
Reyes and Gesmundo took the posts vacated by the retirements in SC of Associate Justices Bienvenido Reyes last July and Jose Mendoza earlier this month, respectively.
With the completion of vacancies in the SC, the membership of its three divisions has been reorganized.
The first division has Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as chair, Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo- de Castro as working chair and Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Francis Jardeleza and Tijam as members.
Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio chairs the second division with Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and Reyes as members.
Lastly, the third division is composed of Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco as chair and Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin, Marvic Leonen, Martirez and Gesmundo as members.