THE JUDGE who issued the Rufino-Prieto-owned Sunvar Realty a Notice to Vacate the Mile Long property has been named in the short list on the next Associate Justice in the anti-graft court.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has announced over the weekend that Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 141 Judge Maryann E. Corpus-Mañalac is included in the short list of applicants to take over the seat of former Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Samuel R. Martires.

Mr. Martires is President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s first appointee to the Supreme Court (SC). He graduated from San Beda College of Law where Mr. Duterte also received his law degree.

The Rufino-Prieto clan also owns the daily broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer which has earned the ire of Mr. Duterte for supposedly “attacking” his administration. Businessman Ramon S. Ang, a known friend of Mr. Duterte, is poised to take over the Inquirer Group of Company which includes the broadsheet.

Sunvar Realty was ordered by Ms. Corpus-Mañalac to vacate the disputed Mile Long property in Makati City. Solicitor-General Jose C. Calida personally accompanied Sheriff Robert T. Bautista to deliver the order.

Others named in the shortlist to the anti-graft court are:

• Antipolo RTC Judge Kevin Narce B. Vivero

• Lawyer Josephine Capio Caranzo

• Malolos RTC Judge Olivia V. Escubio-Samar

• Quezon City RTC Judge Rosanna Fe A. Romero-Maglaya

The JBC also released the shortlist of applicants for the Court of Appeals (CA) seat vacated by now-SC Associate Justice Noel G. Tijam.

Named in the list to be submitted to Mr. Duterte are:

• Lawyer Walter S. Ong

• Manila RTC Judge Ma. Celestina C. Cruz-Mangrobang

• Quezon City RTC Judge Angelene Mary W. Quimpo-Sale

• Lawyer Merianthe Pacita M. Zuraek

The two short lists will be submitted to Mr. Duterte who holds the authority to appoint new members of the courts. — Kristine Joy V. Patag

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