MANILA, Philippines?Chief Justice Reynato Puno will go on a two-week leave two months before his retirement, which has sparked a constitutional debate.

Puno confirmed on Friday that he would take a ?wellness and sabbatical leave? starting on March 17. He is expected to be back at work after the Holy Week, which is from March 29 to April 4.

?It?s a wellness leave as well as sabbatical, which I want to use before I retire because I can no longer avail myself of these leaves [until my retirement on May 17],? the Chief Justice said when interviewed on the sidelines of the Supreme Court-sponsored National Summit on Family Courts held at the Manila Hotel.

He said his taking a leave had nothing to do with the controversy over President Macapagal-Arroyo?s intention to appoint his successor even if the vacancy occurs during the constitutional ban on ?midnight appointments.?

The ban took effect on March 10 and is to last until the President?s term ends on June 30.

?It has nothing to do with that. I have announced that requisition even before,? he said.

Pending petitions

Petitions and counterpetitions have been filed asking the Supreme Court to rule on whether appointments to the judiciary are exempt from the ban on midnight appointments, and whether the high court should compel the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to submit to Ms Arroyo its short list of nominees for the post of chief justice.

Puno, the ex-officio chair of the JBC, on Friday said he expected the Supreme Court to issue a ruling before he retires.

?That should be the case. The issue should be resolved before my retirement,? he said.

He had earlier announced that he would inhibit himself from the Supreme Court?s deliberations on the appointment of the next chief justice.

The eight-member JBC has started the selection process but has tossed to the high court the issue of whether it could still submit its short list of nominees to the President.

No acting CJ yet

Puno did not say who he would designate as acting chief justice during his leave of absence. Traditionally, the most senior court member?in this case Associate Justice Antonio Carpio?is designated acting chief justice.

Carpio and the next most senior member?Associate Justice Renato Corona?are seen as the top contenders for the chief justice position.