JBC opens nomination for SC, Sandiganbayan posts

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Monday opened the nomination for the vacancies in the Supreme Court and at the Sandiganbayan. The decision was reached following the resumption of the eight-man panel’s regular meeting. Chief Justice Renato Corona, who sits as concurrent ex-officio chairman of the panel, presided over the meeting. Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, ex-officio member of JBC, said the council has directed its secretariat, SC clerk of court Ma. Luisa Villarama, to publish that it is now ready to accept nominations for the vacancies. Agra said it would be up to Villarama to formally announce in major dailies when the JBC will start accepting nominations for the two vacant posts in the judiciary. “We just opened it. We did not discuss the time table because it will be up to Clerk of Court (Villarama)," he said. The vacancy in the SC was caused by the appointment Corona as chief justice, succeeding Reynato Puno, who retired on May 17 upon reaching the mandatory age of retirement of 70. On the other hand, the vacancy at the anti-graft court ensued following the death of Presiding Justice Norberto Geraldez last April 4, barely a month after his appointment as presiding justice. Agra said that six out of the eight members of the council attended the meeting and all those present agreed to open nominations for the said vacancies. Aside from Corona and Agra, also present during the meeting were Senator Francis Escudero, retired Associate Justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., retired Justice Aurora Santiago Lagman, and lawyer Conrado de Castro. Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor Jr. and Dean Amado Dimayuga were absent in the meeting. The JBC screens nominees for the positions in the judiciary and submits shortlist of nominees to the Office of the President. Under the Constitution, the President has until 90 days within which to fill up the vacancy. - KBK, GMANews.TV