By Annie Rose A. Laborte
Eleven brilliant minds all active in government service, including the first five senior Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals (CA), are now being considered by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) for the position of Supreme Court Associate Justice.
The candidates for the said post are, in alphabetical order, CA Associate Justice Roberto A. Barrios, CA Associate Justice Marina Lozada Buzon, CA Associate Justice Edgardo P. Cruz, Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo J. De Castro, Government Corporate Counsel Agnes Vicenta Salayo T. Devanadera, CA Associate Justice Portia Aliño Hormachuelos, Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory S. Ong, CA Presiding Justice Ruben T. Reyes, CA Associate Justice Conrado M. Vasquez, Jr., and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Francisco H. Villaruz, Jr.
The JBC declared the vacancy for the SC associate justice post last December 11, days after then SC Senior Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno was named Chief Justice.