The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has nominated four Court of Appeals justices and one Sandiganbayan justice to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court that will occur with the retirement of Associate Justice Jose Perez on Dec. 14.

Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te said in a statement on Friday that the JBC had nominated Court of Appeals Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr. (seven votes), Japar Dimaampao and Apolinario Bruselas and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Samuel Martires (five votes each), and Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes (four votes).

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President Duterte will choose Perez’s replacement from the JBC list in the first of 12 appointments to the Supreme Court that he will make during his six-year term.

The Constitution requires Mr. Duterte to make the appointment within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.

A second vacancy on the Supreme Court will occur on Dec. 29 with the retirement of Associate Justice Arturo Brion.

The JBC will vote again on Dec. 9 to pick nominees for the seat to be vacated by Brion.

Vacant CA seat

The JBC also finalized a list of candidates for a vacancy on the Court of Appeals left by the retirement of Associate Justice Agnes R. Carpio on Dec. 1.

The nominees are Jeofrre W. Acebido, Louis P. Acosta, Anisah B. Amanodin-Umpa, Joselito de Jesus Vibandor and Mary Angelene W. Quimpo-Sale with five votes each, and Danilo S. Cruz, with four votes.

For the seat on the Sandiganbayan left vacant by the optional retirement of Associate Justice Napoleon E. Inoturan in August, the JBC nominated Josephine C. Caranzo, Vilma T. Pauig and Rodolfo Noel S. Quimbo, with five votes each, and Celso O. Baguio; Gregorio V. dela Peña III, Lorifel L. Pahimna and Ricardo V. Paras III, with four votes each.

Vetting judicial nominees

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The JBC is the constitutional body that vets nominees for vacancies in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is chair of the JBC, with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, Sen. Richard Gordon, and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali as ex-officio members.

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez is head of the executive committee composed of Jose Mejia, Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, and retired Judge Toribio Ilao. —WITH A REPORT FROM TETCH TORRES TUPAZ

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