NINETY aspirants are vying for the six new posts in the Sandiganbayan that was created by Republic Act 10660 even as the Judicial and Bar Council scheduled its voting on the shortlists on Oct. 26.
Lawyer Jose Mejia, member of the seven-member body tasked to screen the nominees, announced the names of the candidates for the six vacancies in the two new divisions of Sandiganbayan.
Among the nominees are Assistant Solicitor Genera Karl Miranda, Undersecretary for Special Concerns Michael Frederick Musngi, Ombudsman lawyer Rudiger Falcis II, Department of Justice’s witness protection program director Martin Menez, and Maguindanao massacre Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.
The other bets, mostly lower court judges, interviewed by the council include Philip Aguinaldo, Elmo Alameda, Ma. Lourdes Alarcon-Leones, Reynaldo Alhambra, Tita Alisuag, Rowena Apao-Adlawan, Juanita Areta, Edgar Avila, Ma. Rita Bascos-Sarabia,
Ana Celeste Bernad, Lily Biton, Thelma Bunyi-Medina, Ofelia Calo, Evangeline Castillo-Marigomen, Edwin Carillo, Maryann Corpuz-Mañalac, Luisito Cortez, Reynaldo Cruz, Ma. Celestina Cruz-Mangrobang, Henry Damasing, Isaac De Alban,
Ma. Antonio Edita Dizon, Bernelito Fernandez, Victoria Fernandez-Bernardo, Evelyn Gamotin-Nery, Vicente Gengos Jr., Teodora Gonzales, Frances Guanzon, Georgina Hidalgo, Bayani Jacinto, Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan, Globert Justalero,
Robert Kallos, Virgilio Macaraig, Marissa Macaraig-Guillen, Linda Malenab-Hornilla, Cynthia Mariño-Ricablanca, Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, Rosalyn Misloos-Loja, Ma. Clarissa Pacis-Trinidad, Silvino Pampilo Jr., Elvira Panganiban,
Tita Marilyn Payoyo-Villordon, Esperanca Isabel Poco-Deslate, Rodolfo Noel Quimbo, Renan Ramos, Felix Reyes, Caroline Rivera-Colasito, Efren Santos, Primo Sio Jr., Rowena Tan, Buenaventura Albert Tenorio Jr., Fernando Sagun Jr., Rowena Turingan-Sanchez, Ma. Bernardita Santos and Zaldy Trespeses.
The other nominees who had already been interviewed for other posts earlier this year were Arthur Abundiente, Jeoffre Acebido, Cesar Aganon, Selma Alaras, Perpetua Atal—Paño, Celso Baguio, Jose Bautista Jr., Divinagracia Bustos—Ongkeko, Danilo Cruz,
Ma. Teresa De Guzman-Alvarez, Zaldy Docena, Lorna Navarro Domingo, Garaldine Faith Econg, Teodoro Fernandez, Ma. Amifaith Fider-Reyes, Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig, Alice Gutierrez, Vilma Pauig, Angeline Mary Quimpo-Sale, Gabriel Robeniol,
Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, Danilo Sandoval, Edgar Dalmacio, Andres Bartolome, Esteban Tacla Jr. Salvador Timbang Jr., Kevin Narce Vivero, Merianthe Pacita Zuraek.
The JBC opened last July the nomination and application for the six newly created positions for associate justice that would constitute the two additional divisions of Sandiganbayan.
The vacancies have been created by the passage of Republic Act 10660, or An Act Strengthening the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan, which was signed by President Aquino last April 16.
Under the new law, there will now be a total of seven divisions with three members each or a total of 21 justices in the anti-graft court.
Currently, all 15 posts are filled. The most junior member is Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, who was appointed last May to replace dismissed Senior Justice Gregory Ong.
Apart from expanding the composition of the anti-graft court, R.A. 10660 also amended the decades-old three-vote rule among justices in a division, where rulings will only be considered valid if there is unanimity among the magistrates.
In cases of even a single dissent, a special division of five justices is automatically created under the previous rule. Under the new law, however, all it takes is for two jurists to agree on a case.
“The concurrence of a majority of the members of a division shall be necessary to render a judgment, decision or final order, or to resolve interlocutory or incidental motions,” read Section 5 of the new Sandiganbayan law.
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno chairs the JBC which is mandated to screen and vet nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Ombudsman office.
The regular members apart from Mejia are retired SC Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, of the retired SC justices sector; retired Court of Appeals Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman, representing the private sector, and lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Sereno along with Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and Justice Secretary Benjamin Caguioa are also members.