Oldest SC justice retiring early

Citing his “deteriorating” health condition, the oldest member of the Supreme Court has opted to retire early next year, opening up a slot that President Aquino may fill before his term ends.

Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr. has asked the high court en banc to allow him to retire on Jan. 16 next year, three months ahead of his 70th birthday on April 14, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age.

“The undersigned most earnestly requests your good office for the approval by the Supreme Court en banc of its application for optional retirement,” Villarama wrote to his colleagues at the high court on Nov. 2.

The magistrate, an appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, cited his age-related illnesses as the reason for seeking early retirement.

“The request is being made for reason of the undersigned’s deteriorating health condition brought about by his double-knee metal implantation in 2013 and his cataract operation last year,” read part of the three-page letter addressed to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes and the other associate justices.

“For several years, he has been experiencing difficulty in breathing, hypertension and symptoms [of] prostate illness prevalent among aging men,” said Villarama in the letter,  referring to himself in the third person.

 28 years, 2 months, 8 days

By Jan. 16, Villarama would have rendered service to the judiciary for a total of 28 years, two months and eight days.

Villarama, a law graduate from the Manuel L. Quezon University, joined the judiciary in 1970 as a technical assistant at the Supreme Court’s Office of the Chief Attorney, previously known as the Legal Research Division.

He then went into private practice for several years, but returned to the judiciary in 1986, becoming a Regional Trial Court judge until 1998.  He then served at the Court of Appeals until November 2009, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court.

Villarama’s request will be up to deliberations by the high court en banc.  Once approved, the Judicial and Bar Council is expected to open the vacant slot at the 15-member high court to applications and nominations.

The JBC screening process includes an interview and a psychological test.  The council then sends a short-list to the President for final selection.

Mr. Aquino may choose a new magistrate to fill the vacancy before the ban on appointments takes effect two months before the May 2016 elections.

Currently, President Aquino has five appointees at the high court, including Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Bienvenido Reyes, Estela Perlas Bernabe, Marvic Leonen and Francis Jardeleza.  The rest were all appointed by Arroyo.