MANILA, Philippines — Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin received the most votes to become the next chief justice from his colleagues.
In a media brief, SC spokesperson Theodore Te said that Bersamin received 10 votes from the members of the SC.
Associate Justices Teresita De Castro and Diosdado Peralta received nine votes each, while Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. got two votes.
The four justices accepted their respective nominations to the chief justice post, while Tagum City, Davao del Norte regional trial court Judge Virginia Tehano-Ang applied for the vacancy.
The two most senior justices, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., did not accept their automatic nomination to the post.
Carpio said that he does not want to benefit from the quo warranto ruling that he opposed.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that the Judicial and Bar Council will be more careful in screening the applicants to be the country’s top judge.
Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the JBC by virtue of his position, said that they will make sure that all requirements—including wealth documents—of applicants are complete.
The appointment of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was nullified, through a vote of her colleagues, over alleged missing Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
“There is no new substantial requirement but there will be more careful screening this time,” the Justice chief said.
The JBC opened the application for the chief justice post on June 25, and closed it on July 26.
Under the 1987 Constitution, President Rodrigo Duterte has to fill the post at the Office of the Chief Justice within 90 days from the vacancy or when the ruling that ousted Sereno attained finality last June 19.
Before the year ends, Duterte will appoint the replacement of Velasco and De Castro. Another vacancy will also be filled as Associate Justice Samuel Martires has been designated as ombudsman.