6 candidates for Sandiganbayan associate justice named

Sandiganbayan logo (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has short-listed six candidates to replace Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Maria Cristina Cornejo, who passed away last September 3.

Included in the list released Friday are Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Maryann Corpus-Mañalac, Tuguegarao City RTC Judge Raymond Lauigan, Baguio RTC Judge Mia Joy Oallares-Cawed, and lawyers Dennis Patrick Perez, Perpetuo Lucero Jr. and Walter S. Ong.

The names will be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte who will choose Cornejo’s replacement.

Cornejo, who died at the age of 66, had served as executive judge of the Makati City RTC. She was also a bar reviewer in remedial law and criminal law, as well as a lecturer for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.

Cornejo assumed the position of associate justice on May 1, 2010.

The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.

The council is chaired by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, with ex-officio members, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, along with Sen. Richard Gordon and Mindoro Oriental Rep.

Reynaldo Umali, who have a term-sharing seat in the JBC.