Associate Justices Edilberto G. Sandoval and Francisco H. Villaruz topped the Judicial and Bar Council’s (JBC) list of nominees to the Sandiganbayan top post.

A report from the JBC received at the Sandiganbayan showed that Sandoval and Villaruz obtained seven votes each from the council chaired by Chief Justice Renato Corona. The council came out with the shortlist following deliberations last Monday.

Two other incumbent justices of the Sandiganbayan who made it to the shortlist were Associate Justices Gregory T. Ong and Efren N. Dela Cruz. They garnered six votes each.

Of the four nominees, three – Sandoval, Ong and Villaruz - were nominated several times by the JBC to become the Sandigan chief. Dela Cruz, on the other hand, is being considered to the position for the first time. (Shianee Mamanglu)