THE Judicial and Bar Council has announced the opening of application for the position of Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. who is set to retire in September upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Reyes, appointed to the SC by President Duterte in August 2018, is set to retire on September 18.
In an advisory dated May 22, the JBC said applicants must submit two sets of complete documentary requirements not later than 4:30 p.m. of July 7, 2020.
“Applicants who fail to comply with the requirements of online and physical submission via courier service shall not be considered for nomination,” the JBC added.
The JBC also announced that the online interview of applicants for the position of SC associate justice vacated by the retirement last May 11 of Justice Andres Reyes Jr. will be “conducted via Zoom on May 28 at 10a.m.”
Set to be interviewed are Court of Appeals Justices Ramon Bato Jr., Edwin Sorongon, Priscilla Baltazar- Padilla, and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela.
Also vying for the same post whose previous interviews are still valid according to the JBC are Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, CA Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and CA Justices Manuel Barrios, Ramon Cruz, Japar Dimaampao, Jhosep Lopez, Eduardo Peralta Jr., Pablito Perez, and Ricardo Rosario.
The JBC said the public may send their complaints, reports or opposition against the applicants through electronic mail at jbc@sc.judiciary.gov.ph and at jbc87supreme@gmail.com.
At present, the 14-member SC is packed with appointees of Duterte.
Whoever would be picked to assume the posts of the two Reyeses will be Duterte’s 11th and 12th appointees to the High Court.
The JBC also announced it is opening the application for the post of CA Justice Romeo Barza, who mandatorily retired from the judiciary on August 2, 2019.
STRICTER RULES FOR NOMINATION
Starting next month, the JBC will impose stricter rules in the nomination for appointments to the post of Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.
The revised rules, dated May 21 and signed by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta as JBC ex oficio chair, said it will consider the age of the nominee or applicant to ensure that he or she will be able to serve the judiciary for a reasonably sufficient time.
Under the revised rules, the JBC, which is mandated by the Constitution to vet nominees and applicants to the judiciary, will consider for nomination only those who have at “least two and one half years” remaining to serve as Chief Justice or Associate Justice if they have served as associate justice or presiding justice of the Court of Appeals, Court Administrator, Department Secretary, Solicitor General or head 0f a Constitutional Commission.
“Applicants who are division chairpersons of the appellate court shall be given preference to foster careerism in the Judiciary,” the JBC said.
If not, they should have at least five years remaining as an SC Associate Justice or Chief Justice, the JBC added.
The minimum years of stay as SC associate justice or chief justice was not included in the requirements set in the 2016 JBC Rules.
Under the Constitution, the requirements for SC justices are they should be natural-born Filipino citizen, at least 40 years of age, served as judge of lower court or at least 15 years of practice of law and must be of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.
Retired Chief Justices Teresita Leonardo De Castro and Lucas Bersamin, as well as Peralta, had less than 2.5 years left when they were appointed by Duterte, with De Castro serving only for several months before she reach the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Aside from Peralta, also signing the revised rules were JBC members DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Sen. Dick Gordon for the Senate, Rep.Vicente Veloso III for the House of Representatives, retired Judge Toribio Ilao Jr. for the private sector, retired SC Associate Justice Noel Tijam for the academe, Franklin Demonteverde for the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and retired SC Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza for the retired justices.
