Shortlist of nominees for SC post out November 7

MANILA -- Screening body Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will meet on November 7 to draw up the list of at least three nominees who will possibly seat as the 15th and last member of the Supreme Court.

The list will be forwarded to President Benigno Aquino III, who has until November 22 to appoint or 90 days following the vacancy created by the elevation of Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to Chief Justice.

Jose Mejia, academe representative to the JBC, said in a text message that the eight-member body will meet at 8 a.m. for the voting.

Fifteen people are aspiring for the post including previous Chief Justice nominees De La Salle University Law Dean Jose Manuel Diokno, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Teresita Herbosa, and former Ateneo Law Dean Cesar Villanueva.

Also in the running is Marvic Leonen, government chief negotiator with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Reports said he is a Palace favorite, having successfully worked for the crafting of a draft peace deal that will hopefully end decades of violence in Mindanao.

Malacañang had said the final political settlement with the MILF can still be implemented even without Leonen at the helm of the five-man government panel. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)