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SC endorses three nominees


MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday endorsed three candidates for the post that will be vacated by outgoing Associate Justice Ruben T. Reyes next month. High court Spokesman Jose Midas P. Marquez said the en banc approved the nominations of Sandiganbayan Justice Francisco H. Villaruz, Jr., Court of Appeals Justice Martin S. Villarama, Jr. and Ateneo Law School Dean Cesar L. Villanueva. Ten Justices voted for Mr. Villaruz while the two last candidates each received eight votes. The rules of the Judicial and Bar Council, which screens the nominees, provide that “in every case involving an appointment to a seat in the Supreme Court, the council shall give due weight and regard to the recommendees of the Supreme Court." Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno and the other members of the JBC, will come up with a short list of nominees on Monday. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will appoint the new associate justice from this list. Stakeholders in the Judiciary are closely monitoring the appointments of the next magistrates to allay fears that a majority of the high court will be beholden to the President as appointing authority. It will be the first time since martial law that majority of the bench will be Arroyo appointees since the President has been in power for close to eight years. Six other magistrates of the Supreme Court will all be retiring next year. They are: Associate Justices Adolfo S. Azcuna, Dante O. Tinga, Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Leonardo P. Quisumbing, Minita Chico-Nazario and Alicia A. Martinez. Mr. Puno, who was appointed by President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993, will be the remaining non-Arroyo appointee. He will retire in 2010. The JBC on Monday disqualified Solicitor General Agnes VST Devanadera and former Internal Revenue commissioner Jose Mario C. Buñag because of pending cases as well as lawyer Rodolfo Robles for his age. — BusinessWorld
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