A total of 19 applicants are vying for a Supreme Court post that will be vacated on Nov. 16 upon the compulsory retirement of Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier.
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will interview the 19 applicants starting Oct. 13.
Of the 19 applicants, the JBC will interview eight, while it will skip interviews for the other 11 because their previous interviews for vacancies remain valid.
Those who will no longer be interviewed are Court of Appeals Associate Justices Nina Geluz Antonio-Valenzuela, Ramon Mariño Bato Jr., Ramon Alcala Cruz, Maria Elisa Sempio Diy, Myra Virtucio Garcia Fernandez, Fernanda Lampas-Peralta, Ronaldo Roberto Martin, Walter Ong, Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda, and Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Maria Rowena San Pedro.
Set to be interviewed are Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith Econg, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Lily Villareal Biton, Aldwin Flora Alegre of the Bureau of Immigration, Jason Rueda Barlis of the Legal Education Board, Gamaliel Cordoba of the Commission on Audit, Solomon Mateo Hermosura of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, German Lichauco II, and Ernesto Maceda Jr. of the Commission on Elections.
The council said: ‘The public may submit a sworn complaint, report, or opposition against any of the candidates through mail to the JBC, 2nd floor of SC-CA building on Maria Orosa Street, Ermita, Manila, Padre Faura Street or personal submission in three legible copies, or by electronic mail to [email protected] not later than 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, 2026.’
The JBC, the seven-member council constitutionally tasked to screen nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman, is chaired by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.
After screening, the JBC will come up with a shortlist that will be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has 90 days from the vacancy, the retirement date of Lazaro-Javier, to make a choice.
The replacement of Lazaro-Javier will be the second appointee to the Supreme Court.