Sandiganbayan vacancy

JBC lists three for Sandiganbayan
BY EVANGELINE DE VERA

THE Judicial and Bar Council has shortlisted Assistant Solicitor Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and two regional trial court judges for the lone vacancy at the Sandiganbayan, while 13 are vying for three vacancies at the Court of Appeals.

The shortlist will be submitted to President Aquino, who has 90 days to fill up the posts, from the time the vacancy occurred.

Aside from Tang, nominees for the position of associate justice of the Sandiganbayan are RTC Judges Bernelito Fernandez and Rafael Lagos of Quezon City. The vacancy arose from the demise of Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Norberto Geraldez last April, and the subsequent appointment of Justice Edilberto Sandoval as Geraldez’ successor.

Geraldez died of complications from pancreatic cancer last April 4, barely a month after former President Arroyo appointed him as head of the anti-graft court.

The appointment of Aquino’s nominees to the Sandiganbayan is considered crucial because this court has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and such other offenses committed by public officers, including former presidents.

Contenders for the CA are RTC Judges Louis Acosta (Taguig City), Abraham Borreta (Pasig City), Pedro Corales (Pasay City), Winlove Dumayas (Makati City), Renato Francisco (Malolos City), Henri Jean Paul Inting (Quezon City), Carmelita Manahan (Manila), Pamela Ann Maxino (Guagua, Pampanga), Divina Ongkeko (Sta. Cruz, Laguna), Victoria Isabel Paredes (Caloocan City), Melchor Sadang (Cavite City) and Rafael Santos, and Manila Chief City Prosecutor Jhosep Lopez.

The JBC is composed of Chief Justice Renato Corona, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Francis Escudero, and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., who serve in ex-officio capacity. Its regular members are retired SC Justice Regino Hermosisima, retired CA Justice Aurora Lagman, Integrated Bar of the Philippines representative J. Conrado Castro, and newly appointed member former Justice Secretary Artemio Tuquero Jr.

see - http://www.malaya.com.ph/11252010/news6.html