The Judicial and Bar Council on Friday submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte a shortlist of five nominees for chief justice, a position that became vacant following the retirement of Teresita Leonardo-de Castro last month.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the JBC’s ex-officio member, said the seven-member council approved the shortlist after interviewing the five aspirants for the post. They were Senior Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta, Andres Reyes Jr. and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.
“All five in the shortlist for CJ after closed-door panel interview,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.
He said all the candidates received six votes except for Reyes who got five.
“Shortlist for transmittal to Office of the President before the day is over,” Guevarra said.
Last month, the council decided not to hold public interviews for the senior magistrates aspiring to succeed De Castro.
Guevarra said the JBC took the view that the sitting high court members had already been publicly interviewed when they applied for the post, and the public interviews would not serve any useful purpose.
But he said the nominees would still be vetted by the JBC behind closed doors.
Carpio had previously declined the nomination for the top judicial post, which was left vacant following the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno. He said he did not want to benefit from a decision he opposed.
Carpio was one of the magistrates who voted against the quo warranto petition against Sereno that was filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.
A vacancy in the high court should be filled within 90 days, and that means the President has until Jan. 8 to name De Castro’s successor.
Duterte is expected to appoint more than 10 members of the high court during his six-year term.
He has already appointed six justices so far: Ombudsman Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr., Alexander Gesmundo, Jose Reyes Jr. and Ramon Paul Hernando. Hernando was appointed to the post vacated by Martires.