The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte its shortlist of nominees aspiring for five vacant posts in the Court of Appeals, the second-highest court in the country.
Among those nominated for CA associate justice posts include: Snooky Maria Ana Cauan Bareno Sagayo, Jaime Fortunato Abat Caringal, Lorna Francisca Vanadas Catris Chua Cheng, Mercedita Gozo Dadole Ygnacio, Jose Lorenzo Relova Dela Rosa, Olivia Venzon Escubio Samar, Jill Rose Solier Jaugan Lo, Raymond Joseph Guevarra Javier, Wilhelmina Bago Jorge Wagan, Rogelio Gilzano Largo, Mary Josephine Dela Pena Lazaro, Emilio Rodolfo Yabut Legaspi III, Arthur Oliveros Malabaguio, Lily Ann De Vera Marcos Padaen, J. Ermin Ernest Louie Ramirez Miguel, Rosalyn Dagami Mislos Loja, Rex Bernardo Leano Pascual, Rosanna Fe Abellanosa Romero Maglaya, and Emily Laderas San Gaspar Gito.
Five of the nominees who will be appointed will replace CA Associate Justice Jhoseph Y. Lopez who was promoted to the Supreme Court (SC) on Jan. 26, 2021, retired CA Associate Justices Danton Q. Bueser, Edgardo T. Lloren, and Elihu A. Ybanez, the late Associate Justice Franchito N. Diamante.
The JBC nominations were signed by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo as ex-officio chairman of the council, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra as ex-officio member, Rep. Vicente S.E. Veloso III as ex-officio member, and Jose Catral Mendoza, Toribio E. Ilao Jr., Noel Gimenez Tijam, and Franklin J. Demonteverde as regular members.
The JBC, the constitutional office that accepts, screens and nominates appointments to the judiciary, has formally opened the acceptance of application or nomination for the post of SC associate justice which would be vacated with the retirement on May 14 by Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe.
There is a vacancy in the 15-member SC when then Associate Justice Rosmari D. Carandang retired last Jan. 9. Last Dec. 17, the JBC submitted its nominees to Carandang’s post.
Nominated were Michael G. Aguinaldo, then chair of the Commission on Audit; Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario D. Bruselas Jr.; Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje Tang; CA Associate Justice Ramon A. Cruz; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Geraldine Faith A. Econg; then Commissioner Antonio T. Kho Jr. of the Commission on Elections; CA Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh; and Deputy Court Administrator and Officer-in-Charge Raul B. Villanueva of the SC’s Office of the Court Administrator.