Push Admin

Comelec commissioner, COA chief among 10 vying for SC post

Article (news)

Mike Navallo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - A Comelec commissioner handling a petition against presidential contender Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., the outgoing Commission on Audit chief, and 8 others are vying for a Supreme Court associate justice post.Comelec commissioner Antonio Kho, Jr. and COA chair Michael Aguinaldo both applied to take the place of SC Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang when she retires on January 9 next year.Kho is part of the Comelec’s 2nd Division where the petition for the cancellation of Marcos’ COC filed by civic leaders is currently pending.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/30/21/11-vie-for-vacant-supreme-court-justice-post">11 vie for vacant Supreme Court justice post</a></li></ul>The division recently granted Marcos additional time to file his verified answer in response to the petition, despite petitioners and an election lawyer arguing the period for filing the answer is non-extendible and Comelec has never granted any extensions in the past.Meanwhile, Aguinaldo is overseeing COA’s special audit on pandemic procurement deals entered into by the Philippine government with Pharmally Pharmaceuticals. COA’s earlier annual audit report led to the Senate probe which uncovered Pharmally’s inadequate financial standing, supposedly overpriced contracts, expired face shield whose expiration dates were altered and alleged non-payment of taxes by Pharmally and its executives despite purchasing luxury vehicles.President Rodrigo Duterte had criticized COA for the releasing audit reports but Aguinaldo clarified the claim of overpriced contracts did not come from them.<div> CREDENTIALS</div>Kho, Duterte’s fraternity brother and a graduate of San Beda College of Law, placed 10th in the 1991 Bar Examinations.He had his own private practice and taught in the law schools of Arellano, San Beda and De La Salle University before he was appointed as undersecretary of the Department of Justice in 2016 by the President.He hails from Zamboanga.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/13/21/poll-commissioner-withdraws-application-for-sc-post">Poll commissioner withdraws application for SC post</a></li></ul>He withdrew from an earlier bid to replace retired justice Edgardo delos Santos. Aguinaldo, on the other hand, graduated in 3rd place from the Ateneo Law School in 1992 and placed 7th in the Bar Exams that same year,He has a master’s degree in law from the University of Michigan and taught in Ateneo and other universities before joining the law firm of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.He went on to become a partner at the Romulo Mabanta Law Office.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/08/21/21/what-we-know-about-coa-chief-michael-aguinaldo">What we know about COA chief Michael Aguinaldo</a></li></ul>He was then appointed deputy executive secretary for legal affairs during the previous administration.For the Supreme Court post, he was nominated by retired Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin. <div>JBC INTERVIEW</div>Both Kho and Aguinaldo will end their respective terms in February 2022. Both will be interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council in the morning of December 6.Another applicant, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, will be interviewed that afternoon.Seven other applicants still have valid interviews. They are CA justices Apolinario Bruselas, Ramon Cruz and Ronaldo Martin; Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Justice Geraldine Faith Econg; OIC Court Administrator Raul Villanueva and Finance undersecretary Antonette Tionko.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/16/21/former-spokesman-midas-marquez-appointed-supreme-court-justice">Duterte appoints Midas Marquez as Supreme Court justice</a></li></ul>Former Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez was recently appointed the newest magistrate of the high court.

A Comelec commissioner handling a petition against presidential contender Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., the outgoing Commission on Audit chief, and 8 others are vying for a Supreme Court associate justice post.

Comelec commissioner, COA chief among 10 vying for SC post

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Comelec commissioner, COA chief among 10 vying for SC post

Mike Navallo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 23, 2021 04:59 PM PHT

Read More:

Antonio Kho

Michael Aguinaldo

COA chief

Comelec Commissioner

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Associate Justice post

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.