"We would like as much as possible to eliminate partisan politics by nominating the best and the brightest. If we can nominate three good ones, irrespective of their political connections, then we will be happy," Panganiban said.

Chief Justice Panganiban is the ex-officio chair of the JBC, a constitutionally mandated office that accepts, screens, and nominates appointments in the judiciary.

Panganiban and the other members of the JBC met yesterday in a consultation with representatives of various law groups such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Philippine Bar Association (PBA), Women Lawyers’ Group, and Philippine Judicial Academy (Philja) to iron out problems and come up with a speedier process in the selection of nominees to various posts in the judiciary.

There is a lone vacancy in the 15-member Supreme Court with the retirement last Dec. 19 of Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr. The deadline for the submission of nominations from various groups is on Jan. 19.

There are six vacancies in the Court of Appeals and the deadline for nomination is on Jan. 23.

It could not be ascertained immediately how many vacancies are there in the trial courts.

Chief Justice Panganiban said the JBC members have agreed to open the application or nomination for judges and justices at least three months before their expected retirement. This way, he said, the JBC can hasten the selection process instead of waiting for the actual date of retirement.

"In this way our target would be as much as possible to finish the nomination process on or about the date of actual vacancy instead of beginning it thereafter, and then request the President to make the appointment within 90 days," Panganiban said.

Manuel Legaspi, IBP governor for Eastern Visayas, brought up the issue of partisan politics in the nomination and appointment of members of the judiciary.

"Until now the perception is you cannot be appointed unless there is somebody in Malacañang who can recommend you. I think that is one of the important things that the JBC must hurdle first so that the best and the brightest will be attracted to apply in the judiciary," Legaspi said.

Reacting to Legaspi’s comment, Panganiban said: "The fact that the person may have political acquaintances with political leaders is not a ground for disqualification, neither it should be a qualification, regardless therefore of their political friendships they should be considered on the basis of their merits."

Senator Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Justice Committee and exofficio member of the JBC, said the issue on political accommodations will be discussed in a workshop for the JBC members scheduled first quarter of this year.

"The workshop is precisely to look at our process and see how we can improve it in terms of achieving our mandate. I think this is the only second time that a workshop has been scheduled," Pangilinan said.

The members of the JBC, aside from Panganiban and Pangilinan, are Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Rep. Simeon Datumanong and retired Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul Victorino as ex-officio members; retired Supreme Court Justice Regino Hermosisima Jr., Dean Amado Dimayuga, and J. Conrado Castro as regular members. Supreme Court Justices Reynato S. Puno and Leonardo A. Quisumbing and Court Administrator Presbitero Velasco Jr. act as consultants.