JBC starts selection process for SC post applicants

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has started the selection process for a post in the Supreme Court (SC) that will become vacant when Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. retires in August.

The seven-member council, tasked to screen aspirants to judicial posts, listed 12 candidates for the position after the nomination period ended last May 2.

Nine of the applicants – Jose Reyes, Rosmari Declaro Carandang, Ramon Bato, Ramon Hernando, Ramon Garcia, Oscar Badelles, Manuel Barrios, Apolinario Bruselas and Amy Lazaro-Javier – are associate justices of the Court of Appeals.

Jose Midas Marquez, SC court administrator, was also nominated for the post along with Judge Carlos Espero of the regional trial court of Davao City and former Ateneo College of Law dean Cesar Villanueva.

Velasco, who will turn 70 on Aug. 8, was a former CA justice and court administrator prior to his appointment in the SC in March 2006.

The Constitution requires an SC justice to be at least 40 years of age; with 15 years or more experience as a judge of a lower court or in the practice of law in the country; and has proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.

JBC rules also require applicants to submit 17 documentary requirements, including their complete sworn statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for the previous years and the results of medical examinations taken within the past six months.

After Velasco’s post, the JBC is expected to open another vacancy for an SC associate justice that needs to be filled when Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro retires in October. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno chairs the JBC, which has Sen. Richard Gordon and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, on sharing term, and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra as ex-officio members.

The regular members of the council are retired SC justice Jose CatralMendoza, retired judge Toribio Ilao and lawyers Jose Mejia and Milagros FernanCayosa.