MANILA — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has come up with a shortlist of candidates for the post vacated by Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Leoncia Dimagiba.
Dimagiba, an Ateneo Law School graduate and former Manila assistant city prosecutor and Paranaque city trial court judge, retired last December and had been CA justice since 2009.
Seven candidates passed the standards of the JBC, with Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Ma. Celestina Cruz-Mangrobang garnering seven votes.
Judges Mary Angelene Quimpo Sale of Quezon City RTC and Manila RTC Judge Merianthe Pacita M. Zuraek both earned six votes, while Emily Alino-Geluz, Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed got five votes each.
Meanwhile, Rowena de Juan-Quinagoran got four votes.
The names have already been submitted to the office of President Rodrigo Duterte pursuant to Article III Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution.
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 the legislative branch, namely Sen. Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who shall have a term-sharing seat in the JBC. (PNA)
