MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has submitted a shortlist of nominees for chief justice and Supreme Court associate justice to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as the upcoming retirements of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier draw near.
In a statement on Thursday, October 29, the JBC said five Supreme Court justices were shortlisted for the chief justice position, while 11 individuals were shortlisted for the associate justice position.
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Shortlisted for the position of chief justice are five sitting high court magistrates:
- Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen
- Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa
- Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda
- Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao
- Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez
Two other senior magistrates, Associate Justices Ramon Paul Hernando and Henri Jean Paul Inting, withdrew their acceptance of their nominations for the chief justice post before the shortlist was submitted.
Meanwhile, the JBC submitted an 11-person shortlist to fill the expected vacancy for the associate justice position:
- Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Ramon Bato Jr.
- Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe
- Commission on Audit Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba
- CA Associate Justice Ramon Cruz
- CA Associate Justice Maria Elisa Sempio Diy
- CA Associate Justice Myra Garcia-Fernandez
- CA Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta
- Commission on Elections Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr.
- CA Associate Justice Ronaldo Roberto Martin
- CA Associate Justice Walter Ong
- Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Maria Rowena San Pedro
The JBC announced the applicants for chief justice on October 17 and conducted panel interviews at the high court’s En Banc Session Hall on October 22 and 26.
Screening for the associate justice post began earlier, with candidates interviewed on October 13 and 15 following an October 8 announcement.
Under Article 8, Section 4(1) of the 1987 Constitution, the president has 90 days from the date of a vacancy to appoint a successor from the JBC's shortlist.
Gesmundo is expected to reach the mandatory retirement age on November 6, while Lazaro-Javier will reach the mandatory retirement age on November 16.