5 Supreme Court justices vie to become next chief justice

The candidates include two of the most senior justices: Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), through the Supreme Court (SC), issued the list of five candidates vying to become the country’s next chief justice.

The next top magistrate will replace Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who will retire on November 6. The appointee will be the country’s 28th chief justice and will sit at the High Court’s top post.

As the highest tribunal of the land, the SC oversees all courts in the country, including high level courts like the Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, and the Court of Tax Appeals.

According to the SC, the JBC will hold public interviews for the following candidates on October 22 and 26:

October 22

• Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen (9 am to 12 pm)
• Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa (1 pm to 4 pm)

October 26 (1 pm to 4:30 pm)

• Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda
• Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao
• Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez

JBC, the body tasked to screen candidates for justice and Ombudsman posts, traditionally invites the five most senior SC justices to apply for chief justice. Two of the most senior justices who are not yet for retirement — Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando and Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting — were not on the JBC list.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will appoint the next chief justice based on the list of nominees from the JBC. As found under Article VIII, Sections 4 and 9 of the 1987 Constitution, the SC vacancy must be filled by Marcos within 90 days — which means he has until February 2027 to pick the chief magistrate.

After Gesmundo’s retirement and if Marcos has yet to appoint a chief justice at the time, Leonen will serve as acting chief justice in the meantime.

“This is pursuant to Section 12 of Republic Act No. 296, or the Judiciary Act of 1948, which provides that when the position of Chief Justice is vacant, the duties and powers of the Chief Justice shall be exercised by the most senior Associate Justice until a new Chief Justice is appointed and qualified,” SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting earlier told reporters.

Gesmundo has been serving for over five years now after his appointment as chief justice in April 2021 by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The next chief justice will be Marcos’ third appointment to the SC, which is currently packed by Duterte appointees. Two of the chief justice candidates were appointees of former president Benigno Aquino III (Leonen and Caguioa), while the rest are Duterte appointees. – Rappler.com