MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary, Malacañang said Tuesday, as the selection process for the next chief justice gets underway.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos has not given specific instructions on which cases the next chief justice should prioritize.
“Walang napag-usapan, nasa kamay na po iyan ng Supreme Court, nasa kanilang priority kung anong uunahin nilang desisyunan na kaso (Nothing has been discussed. That is already in the hands of the Supreme Court and it is up to them to determine which cases they will prioritize for resolution),” she said.
“So, hindi po nagdidikta ang Pangulo sa mga ginagawa ng mga korte (the President does not dictate what the courts should do),” Castro added.
Asked about the President’s criteria in choosing the next chief justice, Castro said the evaluation is ongoing, and there is no shortlist yet.
Castro said Marcos considers all those who will apply for the post to be “qualified and capable.”
“Ayon sa Pangulo, lahat naman po na mag-a-apply bilang chief justice, lahat po sila ay magagaling, hindi po nila mararating ang ganyang estado kung hindi sila magagaling (According to the President, everyone who will apply for the position of chief justice is qualified and capable. They would not have reached that level if they were not competent),” Castro said.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 and step down on Nov. 6, 2026.
Meanwhile, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo Brion has nominated Associate Justice Midas P. Marquez for the chief justice post before the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC). The Association of Retired Regional Trial Court Judges of the Philippines has also endorsed Marquez.
The JBC is constitutionally involved in recommending nominees for judicial appointments, with the President ultimately making the appointment from the Council’s list. (PNA)
