All 14 SC justices nominated for chief justice

MANILA, Philippines - All of the 14 justices of the Supreme Court (SC) have been nominated to the top position in the judiciary, which was left vacant after the Senate impeachment court convicted former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

On top of the list were the High Court's five most senior justices, including Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, Senior Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Arturo Brion.

Of the five most senior justices, only Brion has accepted his nomination.

The nine other SC junior justices who have been nominated are Associate Justices Roberto Abad, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano Del Castillo, Jose Mendoza, Jose Perez, Bienvenido Reyes, Maria Lourdes Sereno, Martin Villarama, Jr., and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Of the nine SC junior justices, only Bernabe declined her nomination, Abad has accepted his nomination and the seven others have not yet accepted their respective nomination.

Other members of the judiciary who have been nominated to the post of Chief Justice are Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes and CA Associate Justice Magdangal De Leon, and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francisco Villaruz.

As of 1:49 p.m. Wednesday (June 20), a total of 51 people have been nominated for chief justice and two more have applied for the position. Of the 51 nominees, 11 have accepted and four have declined.

The list may continue to grow longer with the Judicial and Bar Council's (JBC) decision to extend the submission of application and nominees from June 18 to July 2.

The JBC's deadline for the submission of a shortlist to President Benigno Aquino III is July 30.