3 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 06:52 UTC · updated Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:42 UTC
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a shortlist of five Supreme Court associate justices for the position of chief justice: Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda, Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, and Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez. This follows the compulsory retirement of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on November 6, 2026, with Leonen set to serve as acting chief justice until a new appointee is named. President Marcos must fill the vacancy by February 2027, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution.
The JBC also released a shortlist of nominees for the associate justice position, to fill the upcoming retirement of Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier on November 16. The next chief justice will be President Marcos' second or third appointee to the Supreme Court, where Duterte appointees currently form the majority. Only Leonen and Caguioa were appointed by former president Benigno Aquino III.
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