Court of Appeals (CA) Justices Lucas Bersamin and Martin Villarama, along with Sandiganbayan Justice Francisco Villaruz, are the top picks of Supreme Court (SC) justices to replace recently-retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna.

The three got nine votes each from the 14 justices of the High Court. This is the second time that Villaruz lorded it over the SC voting; the first was when he edged out 10 other hopefuls for the seat vacated by retired Justice Ruben Reyes on January 3. He was then followed by Villarama.

Surprisingly, the one who bagged the third spot the last time, Ateneo law dean Cesar Villanueva, dropped to last place in today’s voting, getting only two nods along with University of Sto. Tomas law school dean Roberto Abad and CA Justice Japar Dimaampao.

Following a friend

Villaruz is a member of the special division in Sandiganbayan which convicted deposed Pres. Joseph Estrada of plunder in 2007. Two of the division’s members have been appointed to the Supreme Court already.

Justice Teresita de Castro was appointed to the High Tribunal on December 2007 while Justice Diosdado Peralta became an SC jurist last January 15.

Peralta’s friend, Bersamin, may join him soon as he is believed to be Malacañang’s prime choice to replace Azcuna. Bersamin has admitted that he is close to President Arroyo’s first cousin Erlinda de Leon, and her husband, Carlos de Leon.

However, he vowed not to let his closeness with the two impinge on his judicial independence.

Minus one

Meanwhile, Court of Tax Appeals Presiding Justice Ernesto Acosta was next with six votes.

Four of the 17 SC aspirants tied with four votes each--CA justices Hakim Abdulwahid, Remedios Fernando, Portia Hormachuelos, and real estate businessman Rodolfo Robles.

Former Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Jose Mario Buñag got three votes.

Prior to this, one of the 18 contenders, CA Justice Mariano del Castillo, dropped out of the race purportedly following the media attention he got on his alleged closeness with the Arroyos.

The members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which vets nominees for the judiciary to the president, are expected to cast their votes next Monday.