JBC opens application for vacancies in SC, Sandiganbayan

The Judicial Bar Council (JBC) announced that application is now open for vacancies in the Supreme Court and Sandiganbayan. (Photo: Wikipedia)sandiganbayan

MANILA–The Judicial Bar Council (JBC) announced that application is now open for vacancies in the Supreme Court and Sandiganbayan.

In its announcement, the JBC said SC Associate Justice Jose Mendoza is set to retire on August 13, after serving for around seven years at the high tribunal.

Mendoza has been appointed to the SC in January 2010 by then President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Prior to his appointment at the SC, Mendoza served as a regional trial court judge since 1989.

Apart from Mendoza, the JBC announced that it is also accepting applications for the vacancy at the Sandiganbayan that was made open with the retirement of Associate Justice Maria Cristina Cornejo.

Cornejo, who has been on sick leave since June 13, 2016 availed disability retirement that became effective March 1 when she turned 66.

Medical records showed that Justice Cornejo had been diagnosed with “acute cerebrovascular disease in bilateral cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, controlled hypertension, systemic lupus erythematous, pancytopenia, colon cancer stage III s/p left hemicolectomy, and acute kidney injury secondary to poor oral intake.”

The JBC is chaired by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno, with two ex-officio members — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and legislative representatives Senator Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, who shall have a term sharing seat in the JBC.

The regular members are retired SC Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, who heads the Executive Committee; lawyer Jose Mejia, representing the academe; lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and retired Judge Toribio Ilao, representing the private sector.