The Judicial and Bar Council has shortlisted eight aspirants for the upcoming vacancy in the Supreme Court when Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. reaches his mandatory retirement this coming August.
During its session on Monday, the seven-member council concurrently chaired by Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio voted the eight from an initial list of 12 applicants.
Three nominees led the JBC shortlist after garnering seven votes from all members of the council, namely: Court of Appeals Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr., Amy Lazaro-Javier and Ramon Garcia.
Also made it to the shortlist after getting six votes each were Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and CA Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang and Ramon Hernando.
Former Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva, who got five votes, completed the shortlist of 8 nominees for the SC justice post.
The shortlist has been transmitted to the office of President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday.
The JBC, which is tasked to vet on the qualification of applicants and nominees for judges and justices in the judiciary and Office of the Ombudsman, is headed by the Chief Justice, along with House committee chairman and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra as ex-officio members.