MANILA – The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) began its two-day interviews on Thursday with applicants for the next chief justice of the Supreme Court (SC).
The Council first interviewed Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, followed by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.
Both Leonen and Caguiao, the SC’s two most senior justices, were appointed by the late President Benigno Aquino III.
Leonen obtained his law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law while Caguioa completed the course at the Ateneo de Manila Law School.
On Monday, the JBC will interview the next three most senior justices of the high court, namely: Associate Justices Rodil Zalameda, Japar Dimaampao and Jose Midas Marquez.
The JBC, chaired by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, screens and recommends appointees to the judiciary to Malacañang.
Other JBC members are Atty. Nesauro H. Firme, representing the academe; retired Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Erlinda Piñera Uy, representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; congresswoman Gerville R. Luistro, representing the Legislative Department; Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida, representing the Executive Department; Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, representing the Legislative Department; retired SC Associate Justice Jose C. Mendoza, representing the retired SC Justices; and Atty. Jose V. Mejia, representing the private sector.
The JBC did not consider a sixth applicant for the chief justice position, Dr. Jose “Doctorney” Montemayor.
Gesmundo is set to retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Nov. 6. (PNA)
