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THE Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Monday came with the shortlist
of candidates to fill a vacant seat in the Supreme Court that
resulted from the retirement of Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval
Gutierrez.
The five contenders are Labor Secretary Arturo
Brion, Sandiganbayan Justices Martin Villarama, FranciscoVillaruz,
and Edilberto Sandoval, and Court of Appeals Justice Portia Alino
Homachuelas. Brion and Villarama top the shortlist with eight votes
each.
The High Court spokesman, Lawyer Jose Midas
Marquez, said that President Gloria Arroyo has 90 days to choose the
new justice.
Marquez said the appointment of the new justice
is very important in the light of High Court’s upcoming decision
on the principle of executive privilege, which former
socioeconomic planning Secretary Romulo Neri petitioned before the
court.
The High Tribunal is expected to come out with a
decision in two to three weeks. There were talks in the judiciary
that the justices were deadlocked at 7-7 over the matter.
“One vote is one vote. When we’re talking
about a divided court, one vote can make a difference,” Marquez
said.
According to Marquez, the new justice to be
appointed would be allowed to vote in Neri’s case even if he has
not participated in the oral arguments.
-- William B. Depasupil
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