JBC sets deadline to oppose SC aspirants

MANILA, Philippines — The public has until Thursday to oppose the applications of five Supreme Court (SC) magistrates aspiring to be the next chief justice, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) said over the weekend. 

The JBC said any complaint or opposition against the candidates – Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin, Diosdado Peralta, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Andres Reyes Jr. – should be submitted on or before Nov. 15.

The complaint may either be handcarried or mailed to the JBC office, 2F Centennial Building, Supreme Court, Padre Faura Street, Manila.

It can also be sent by facsimile at telephone no. 02-552-9607 or e-mailed [email protected] and [email protected].

“The Council en banc will meet on Nov. 16 to discuss the comments or opposition from the public,” SC clerk of court and JBC ex-officio secretary Edgar Aricheta said.

The five candidates, being senior justices of the SC themselves, will no longer undergo public interviews. 

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said the justices who received automatic nomination – five most senior justices and magistrates with a minimum of five years at the SC – are exempted from public interview.

All applicants will, however, still undergo a thorough and closed-door interview by the JBC panel.

Peralta, Bersamin and Reyes had their public interviews in July, which are still considered valid for a year.

Carpio and Bernabe received automatic nominations by virtue of their position at the SC.