SC justices Bernabe, Reyes also vie for chief justice post

MANILA, Philippines — Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Andres Reyes have joined the list of candidates for the country’s top judge.

This was confirmed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who is a member of the Judicial and Bar Council by virtue of his position.

Bernabe and Reyes joined Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin in vying for the chief justice post.

Bernabe is one of the court’s top five senior justices and has received an automatic nomination to the post.

Reyes, meanwhile, also vied for the chief magistrate post that was opened after the ruling that ousted of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno attained finality in June.

The post eventually went to Chief Justice Teresita De Castro, who retired on October 10.

De Castro held the top judge position for less than two months.

Peralta, Bersamin and Reyes faced the JBC panel last August for a public interview, which is one of the requirements for a Judiciary post.

Their respective interviews are valid for a year, and they would not be facing the JBC for their application for De Castro’s successor.

Carpio and Bernabe would have to face the panel in an interview that the JBC has yet to set.

After the public interview, the JBC would then would then evaluate the applications and vote on the candidates. If a candidate gets at least four affirmative votes from members of the JBC, he or she is considered for nomination.

The list, which should contain at least three names, would then be submitted to the president.

Duterte holds the authority to appoint the country’s next top magistrate. He earlier said that in picking the chief justice: “Whoever goes first will be promoted first and that would go for everybody.”

READ: Does Carpio stand a chance to be the next chief justice?