JBC opens nomination for next chief justice

MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the nomination for the post of chief magistrate, which will become vacant following the early retirement of Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta on March 27.

The JBC set the deadline for submission of applications and nominations on Feb. 15.

Peralta is supposed to retire on March 27, 2022 when he reaches the mandatory age of retirement for justice.

Last December, Peralta informed his fellow Supreme Court (SC) justices that he would retire from the judiciary this year.

Amid the restrictions being implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the JBC advised aspirants to access the online application schedule at jbc.judiciary.gov.ph from 8 a.m. to 12 midnight.

After filing the required information, the applicants will receive a computer-generated letter of intent through e-mail. They must submit the complete and accurate digitized versions of the letter of intent and documentary requirements.

The date of actual receipt of the complete documentary requirements sent through e-mail will be considered as the date of filing, the JBC said.

As required by the JBC rules, only nominations with a letter of acceptance from the nominee would be processed.

The five senior Associate Justices of the SC are automatically nominated, but they still need to submit a letter of acceptance and other requirements.

With the upcoming retirement of Peralta, the five most senior magistrates are Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, who will retire on May 14, 2022, Associate Justices Marvic Leonen (mandatory retirement on Dec. 29, 2032), Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa (Sept. 24, 2029), Alexander Gesmundo (Nov. 6, 2026) and Ramon Paul Hernando (Aug. 27, 2036).

The JBC will submit a shortlist of nominees for the next chief justice to President Duterte.