"x x x.
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has named six nominees to the lone vacancy in the Sandiganbayan as a result of the promotion last year of Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr. as the anti-graft court’s presiding justice.
Assistant Solicitor General Amparo Cabotaje Tang and Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Bernelito Fernandez topped the list of nominees with seven votes. The other nominees with five votes each were RTC Judges Emmanuel Laurea of Malabon City, Ma. Belen Liban of Malolos City in Bulacan, Ruben Roxas of Manila, and Esteban Tecla of Mandaluyong City. Villaruz was appointed Sandiganbayan presiding justice by President Benigno S. Aquino III on October 5, 2011.
x x x."
