MANILA — Some seven trial court judges vying for the position that will be vacated by retiring Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Leoncia Dimagiba are set to be interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Wednesday, October 25.
Dimagiba, who will compulsorily retire on December 1, had been CA Justice since 2009.
Dimagiba, a graduate of the Ateneo Law School, served as Manila assistant city prosecutor and Paranaque City trial court judge prior to her appointment to the appellate court.
The seven applicants are Alexander Nicandro Acosta, Jimmy Edmund Batara, Marie Grace Javier-Ibay, Rowena de Juan-Quinagoran, Evelyn Gamotin-Nery, Romeo Tagra, and Ferdinand Tan.
The JBC has set the public interviews on Wednesday at the Division Hearing Room of the Supreme Court (SC).
There are also 23 other applicants seeking a spot in the CA but they no longer have to undergo interview as their previous interviews for past vacancies remain valid.
They are Dinnah Aguila-Topacio, Selma Alaras, Emily Alino-Geluz, Evalyn Arellano-Morales, Danilo Cruz, Ma. Celestina Cruz-Mangrobang, Gregorio Dela Pena III, Georgina Hidalgo, Liwliwa Hidalgo-Bucu, Perpetuo Lucero Jr., Virgilio Macaraig, Cynthia Marino-Ricablanca, Rosalyn Mislos-Loja, Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, Ronald Moreno, Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed, Walter Ong, Acerey Pacheco, Silvino Pampilo Jr., Richard Paradeza, Vilma Pauig, Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale, and Merianthe Pacita Zuraek.
All applicants will be screened by the JBC and the shortlist will be submitted to President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
The JBC is chaired by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno, with two ex-officio members – Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and legislative representatives Senator Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who have term sharing seat in the JBC. (PNA)
