Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera sees nothing wrong with having some friends in Malacañang. She said that her closeness to the Palace should not be taken negatively despite her nomination to the Supreme Court.

"My closeness to the Palace is something that should not be taken as negative. Kayo rin naman may mga kaibigan na nalagay sa pwesto (You yourself also have friends who are in high places)," she said after facing members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Devanadera was among seven nominees who were subjected by the JBC panel to a public interview months before vacancies open up in the highest court of the land.

The top government lawyer was obviously offended by reports that she may be the first to be picked for the Supreme Court since she has close ties with the Palace.

Devanadera challenged her critics and said that they can examine her track record as Quezon town mayor, government corporate counsel, justice undersecretary and solicitor general.

She said that like any other lawyer, it has been her dream to become a Supreme Court magistrate one day. She said that she has proven herself ready to assume the post after facing the high court in 12 oral arguments.

Devanadera said that despite her ties to the Palace, the high court post has yet to be given to her.

"Many people are calling and texting me saying congratulations..[that] it's in the bag...Sinasabi ko it's not. Nakikipagsapalaran pa ako! (I say that it's not yet mine. I'm still struggling for it!)"

Wednesday's interview was the second for Devanadera after applying for the high court's vacancy last year.

Asked what she did to prepare for Wednesday's interview, the former town mayor said she went to bed early on Tuesday night.

Buñag's turn

Meanwhile, former Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Mario Buñag faced the JBC interview that lasted for two hours.

Emerging from the interview, Buñag admitted that he encountered tough questions, like the one asking for his position on the death penalty and his judicial philosophy, among others.

The jurors focused their questions on Buñag's career as a corporate lawyer and why he would want to become a magistrate.

To this, he replied by saying that there have been a number of corporate lawyers who went on to become Supreme Court justices. He added that he thinks it is time for him to follow this path.

Meanwhile, the former BIR chief said he does not see Devanadera's closeness to Malacañang as a problem, joking that a lot of Supreme Court vacancies will be open anyway.

"Magkaka seven vacancies pa naman di ba?...But really, appointments should not be based on popularity. Di naman eleksyon yan di ba? It's the SC, dapat Constitution, judicial excellence, integrity and competence ang titingnan (There will be seven vacancies and its not the elections)," he said.

Aside from the two, the JBC was scheduled to interview Court of Appeals Justices Mariano del Castillo, Juan Enriquez Jr., Remedios Fernando, Portia Hormachuelos and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Diosdado Peralta as of posting time. -- With a report from Marieton Pacheco, ABS-CBN News