Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin retires Friday, Oct. 18, as the 25th head of the country’s Judiciary.
Bersamin turns 70, the mandatory retirement age for members of the judiciary, Friday. He has served the Judiciary for 33 years.
Automatically, Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio assumes as acting Chief Justice until his retirement on Oct. 26.
If President Duterte has not appointed a new Chief Justice between today until Oct. 26, Associate Justice Diosdado M. Peralta will assume as acting Chief Justice.
Peralta and Associate Justices Estela M. Perlas Bernabe and Andres B. Reyes Jr. have been nominated by the Judicial and Bar Council to the post of Chief Justice.
Under the Constitution, the President has 90 days from Oct. 18 to appoint Bersamin’s replacement from among the three nominees submitted by the JBC.
Once a new Chief Justice is appointed, there would be three vacancies in the 15-member Supreme Court. These are the post of associate justices left with the retirement of Francis H. Jardeleza last Sept. 26, the post that would be vacated by Carpio on Oct. 26, and the slot that would be left by whoever would be appointed Chief Justice.
Malacañang said Duterte may name the new Chief Justice soon as Bersamin retires.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte has not mentioned any name but said he may decide soon since Bersamin would be vacating his post.
“Wala pa siyang binabanggit. Baka mamaya meron tayong makuha,” he said.
“I will ask him. Siguro mamaya may announcement na ‘yun kung bukas na ang retirement. O baka may OIC,” he added. (Rey Panaligan and Argyll Geducos)