Starting next week, the eight candidates for the Sandigan top post will have a one-to-one conversation regarding their applications with the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

The JBC, chaired by Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, has scheduled the interview for the applicants for the Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice from August 3 to 4.

The candidates for the top post include the four Sandigan division’s chairpersons — Associate Justices Edilberto Sandoval, concurrent chair of the 2nd division and who acts as the Presiding Justice, Gregory Ong, (4th division), Francisco Villaruz (3rd division) and Efren dela Cruz (1st division).

The other aspirants are SC deputy court administrators Nimfa Vilches and Edwin Villasor and Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges Renato Francisco (Malolos) and Pedro Corales (Pasay).

The JBC secretariat said it is also preparing to schedule for publication the applicants for the Sandigan Associate Justice during the first week of August. It initially set the deadline for application last July 5. (Shianee Mamanglu)