Court of Appeals Associate Justice Martin S. Villarama Jr. was the top choice of the Supreme Court (SC) as replacement for Justice Consuelo Ynares Santiago who retires on October 5 when she reaches age 70, the mandatory retirement age for members of the judiciary.

Justice Villarama got 11 votes from 13 SC justices who participated in Tuesday’s voting during the High Court’s full court session. Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Francisco H. Villaruz Jr. and lawyer Rodolfo D. Robles got 10 votes each.

When the voting was held, Senior Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing and Justice Minita V. Chico Nazario were on leave. Only the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) makes the official nominations for appointments to the judiciary as prescribed in the Constitution.

However, the SC traditionally makes its own voting in line with the provision of the JBC rules to guide the council in its nominations.

There would be two other vacancies in the 15-member SC this year. Quisumbing and Nazario will retire on November 6 and December 5, respectively.

Besides Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno as chairman, the other members of the JBC are Acting Justice Secretary Agnes VST Devanadera, Senator Francis Escudero, Rep. Matias V. Defensor, Jr., retired SC Justice Regino C. Hermosisima, Dean Amado L. Dimayuga, Atty. Conrado Castro, and retired CA Associate Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman.

Under the Constitution, the President has 90 days to appoint a replacement for a retired SC justice.