MANILA, Philippines — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) submitted to Malacañang on Friday the list of qualified nominees for the next Supreme Court Associate Justice, which will become vacant upon the retirement of Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio later this month.
Those shortlisted are mostly Court of Appeals Associate Justices, except Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez. The Court of Appeals Associate Justices in the list are Manuel Barrios, Edgardo Delos Santos, Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Garcia, Jhosep Lopez, Pablito Perez, Ricardo Rosario, and Maria Filomena Singh.
President Rodrigo Duterte has 90 days to choose from the shortlist. The 90-day period shall commence from the time the position becomes vacant.
Carpio is set to reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on October 26. /kga