JBC cancels online interview of bets aspiring for SC seat
THE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Thursday cancelled the second day of online public interview for candidates eyeing the seat vacated by retired Supreme Court associate justice Edgardo delos Santos.
“Considering that the interviews of the remaining applicants for SC AJ (V. Hon. Edgardo L. Delos Santos) are still valid, the scheduled online public interviews today (Thursday) have been cancelled,” the JBC said.
The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen applicants for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.
Interviewed by the JBC Wednesday were Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko, Court of Appeals Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas and Ramon Cruz, and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang.
The other candidates are former Justice undersecretary Antonio Kho Jr., Court of Appeals Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ronaldo Roberto Martin, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, and Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva.
The high court approved the early retirement request of delos Santos, the 186th associate justice. He retired last June 30, 2021.
He was the third SC justice to avail of early retirement.
On November last year, the high court accepted the early retirement request of associate justice Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla. She was supposed to retire on 2028.
On the other hand, chief justice Diosdado Peralta has also opted for early retirement last March 27, 2021.
In a one-page letter to his staff dated March 19, 2021, delos Santos expressed regret that he will be retiring early.
” Ialso write to you today to properly express my deep sadness for cutting short our association. In the brief time that we have together, I have found comfort in coming to our office with the knowledge that I am among trusted people. I saw and felt your enthusiasm in your work which in turn encouraged me to do my best as your boss and mentor,” he said.
“I spent sleepless nights trying to think better — no, make that –the best way to announce my decision to you, my staff, in light of trying times we are currently experiencing. I succumbed to the frailty of human emotions, that as I mustered to overcome my sadness during my announcement this afternoon,” de los Santos continued.
