More than a week before Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro retires from the judiciary, the Judicial and Bar Council on Friday started accepting the nominations for the post she will be vacating starting today, Oct. 1
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the JBC, said the deadline for the submission of the requirements for those interested in the position will be on Oct. 15.
He made his statement even as the Supreme Court affirmed the Labor Department’s order and the circular of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board requiring bus operators to provide fixed salaries to bus drivers and conductors and to give them additional pay for good performance.
At the same time, the high court dismissed the petition filed by bus operators that questioned the order and the circular.
The JBC will start vetting the nominees aspiring to succeed De Castro when she reaches her mandatory retirement age of 70 on Oct. 8 this year.
Only the nominations with a letter of acceptance by the nominees will be processed.
The five most senior associate justices of the Supreme Court are automatically nominated, but they still need to submit a letter of acceptance and other requirements.
The magistrates who will be automatically nominated to the post of chief justice are Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.