High Court recommends Marquez, three CA justices to SC associate justice post

The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday recommended to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) the nomination of three Court of Appeals (CA) associate justices and its Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez to the post that would be vacated on January 5, 2019, by Associate Justice Noel G. Tijam.

In a press briefing, Midas – who was designated SC spokesman by Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin – said the three CA associate justices are Manuel M. Barrios, Ramon M. Bato Jr. and Ramon R. Garcia.

The JBC – the constitutional body that accepts, screens, and nominates appointments to the judiciary – has yet to vote and submit its shortlist to the Tijam post.

It is from the JBC list where President Duterte would select his appointee.

Chief Justice Bersamin’s appointment last week left another vacancy for the associate justice post.

Also last week, the President appointed CA Associate Justice Rosmari D. Carandang to the post of associate justice vacated by retired Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro.

Carandang was the seventh appointee of President Duterte to the SC. The first six appointees were Associate Justices Samuel Martires (who retired to assume the post of Ombudsman), Tijam, Andres B. Reyes Jr., Alexander G. Gesmundo, Jose C. Reyes Jr., and Ramon Paul L. Hernando.

This is on top of the President’s appointment of then Chief Justice De Castro and the now Chief Justice Bersamin. Thus, technically, the President already has nine appointees to the SC.

The other aspirants to the Tijam post are CA Associate Justices Apolinario D. Bruselas Jr., Ramon A. Cruz, Stephen C. Cruz, Edgardo L. delos Santos, Japar B.Dimaampao, Mario V. Lopez, and Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Eduardo B. Peralta Jr., and Ricardo R. Rosario.

Also aspiring for the post vacated by Tijam are Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice AmparoCabotaje Tang and Associate Justices Efrendela Cruz and Alex Quiroz; and Centro Escolar University Vice Dean Rita Linda Jimeno and former Ateneo Law Dean Cesar Villanueva; and Tagum City Regional Trial Court Judge Virginia Tehano Ang.

The JBC is headed by Chief Justice Bersamin with ex-officio members Justice Secretary MenardoGuevarra, Sen. Richard Gordon, and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon.

Retired SC Justice Joe CatralMendoza is the head of the executive committee, Milagros Fernan-Cayosa represents the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and retired Judge ToribioIlao, represents the private sector in the JBC.