JBC still open for Supreme Court nominees

MANILA, Philippines—The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) Monday extended until April 29 the deadline for those vying to be Supreme Court justice, with the imminent retirement of appointed Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and Antonio Eduardo Nachura.

In a text message, Supreme Court spokesperson and JBC member Jose Midas Marquez said some of the applicants failed to submit their applications or nominations within the 10-day application period that ended on March 28 “which was found to be ‘too short’.”
“Thus, the JBC in its meeting this morning has decided to still consider until April 29 at 5p.m the applications and nominations of persons with outstanding qualifications, provided they give a valid justification for failing to apply within the earlier period and subject to the sound discretion of the JBC,” Marquez said.

Nachura will retire on June 13 and Carpio-Morales on June 19.

There are 28 applicants for the position, which includes Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. and a number of Court of Appeals associate justices.

Whoever will replace Nachura and Carpio-Morales will be the second and third appointees of President Benigno Aquino III.

His first appointee was Associate Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

Sereno is still the only appointee of Mr. Aquino. The 14 other justices, including Chief Justice Renato Corona, were appointed by former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.