MANILA — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is set to conduct interviews for the applicants vying for the position of Associate Justice in Court of Appeals and Sandiganbayan next month.
The vacancies became available due to the appointment of Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo to the Supreme Court (SC) last Aug. 14. and the retirement of CA Associate Justice Melchor Quirino Sadang last January 6.
SC Clerk of Court and JBC Ex Officio Secretary Felipa Anama announced that the interviews of nine candidates will be held on Feb. 6 and 7 at the Training Center of the SC Centennial Building in Manila.
Scheduled for interview on Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. till noon are Pasay City Regional Trial Court (PCRTC) Judge Gina Bibat-Palmos; Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) Judge Madonna Echiverri; and former Slapshock band vocalist-turned-lawyer Reynold Munsayac.
In the afternoon, the JBC would interview QC RTC Judge Luisito Cortez; Caloocan City RTC Judge Esteban Tacla Jr.; and Manila City RTC Judge Merianthe Pacita Zuraek.
On Feb. 7, the JBC has lined up for interview Malaybalay, Bukindon RTC Executive Judge Ma. Theresa Aban-Camannong; and Ligao, Albay RTC Judge Edwin Ma-alat in the morning while Chinatrust Commercial Bank vice president for finance and corporate affairs Maritess Parilla-Ebinias has been given the afternoon slot.
Apart from these nine candidates, the JBC said it was still honoring the previous interviews conducted on 37 other candidates.
The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.
The council is chaired by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, with ex-officio members, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, along with representatives from the legislative branch namely Sen. Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who shall have a term sharing seat in the JBC. (PNA)
