CA justice withdraws from SC race for associate justice post

The Supreme Court building on Padre Faura Street in Manila. (File photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines – A Court of Appeals (CA) justice has withdrawn his application for the Supreme Court Associate Justice post.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has announced that Associate Justice Stephen C. Cruz is out of the race. He was supposed to be among the candidates to be interviewed by the body on Wednesday.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the JBC, said Justice Cruz has opted to stay at the CA until he reaches the mandatory age of 70 on Aug. 3, 2020.

Cruz has applied several times for the Supreme Court position. He was among the choices of the high court en banc.

A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, he was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2006.

With Cruz’s withdrawal, there are now 23 candidates vying for the Supreme Court Associate Justice post, which will become vacant next month on the retirement of Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo.

The JBC will narrow down the list and submit it to President Rodrigo Duterte who has 90 days to make his choice.

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