Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio will get benefits equivalent to a chief justice once he retires on Oct. 26.
Retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban revealed that the SC en banc made the decision due to length of service Carpio at the High Tribunal.
“The Court nonetheless passed a unanimous resolution, with him taking no part, granting him the retirement privileges of a chief justice,” said Panganiban during the testimonial lunch by the Makati Business Club in honor of Carpio yesterday.
“I think this is the least the Court could do for its esteemed member who faithfully served the longest term, 18 years as associate justice, second only to its first Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano for 19 years from 1901 to 1920,” he explained.
Panganiban lamented Carpio tried applying for the Chief Justice post five times but never got picked.
The Judicial and Bar Council has sent a shortlist of candidates vying for the seat that will be vacated by Carpio to Malacanang.
In the shortlist are Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Court of Appeals Justices Manuel Barrios, Edgardo delos Santos, Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Garcia, Jhosep Lopez, Pablito Perez, Ricardo Rosario, and Maria Filomena Singh. (Jeffrey Damicog)
