JBC submits shortlist for next Chief Justice to Marcos

MANILA (UPDATE) — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. its shortlist of candidates for the next Chief Justice, the Supreme Court announced Thursday.

The five applicants in the shortlist are the following:

• SC Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen 

• SC Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa

• SC Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda

• SC Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao

• SC Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez

The Supreme Court said all five justices who were interviewed by the JBC last October 22 and 26 were named in the shortlist. 

The SC also noted that two of the five senior SC justices—Associate Justices Ramon Paul Hernando and Henri Jean Paul Inting—withdrew their acceptance of their respective nominations.

Marcos will choose the country’s next top magistrate from the JBC’s list.

The position will become vacant following the mandatory retirement of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on November 6, when he reaches the age of 70. 

The JBC also named its shortlist for the SC Associate Justice position to be vacated by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier who is due to retire on November 16, 2026. 

Named in the shortlist for SC Associate Justice are Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta and Associate Justices Ramon Cruz, Maria Elisa Diy, Myra Garcia-Fernandez, Ramon Bato, Jr., Ronaldo Roberto Martin, and Walter Ong; Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe; Commission on Audit chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba; Commission on Elections commissioner Ernesto Maceda, Jr.; and Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Maria Rowena San Pedro.  —With reports from Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News