By Rey G. Panaligan
The Judicial and Bar Council formally opened yesterday the applications or nominations for the position of Chief Justice that was vacated last June 19 with the ouster of Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno.
The Supreme Court Public Information Office stated that “deadline for filing and completion all requirements is on July 26, 2018.”
The PIO also said: “The five most senior associate justices of the SC are automatically nominated subject to the submission of a written acceptance of nomination to be submitted on or before July 26, 2018.”
Based on seniority, the top five SC justices are acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio and Justices Presbitero J. Velasco Jr., Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro, Diosdado M. Peralta, and Lucas P. Bersamin.
Justices Mariano C. del Castillo and Estela M. Perlas Bernabe would be added to the list if Velasco and De Castro would no longer be considered as “automatically nominated” since they are retiring on Aug. 7 and Oct. 8, respectively, this year, when they reach the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Del Castillo and Bernabe are retiring in July 2019 and May 2020, respectively.
Carpio had said he will decline all nominations for him to be the next Chief Justice.
