25 out of 71 join race for SC chief

The Supreme Court building in Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A total of 25 out of 71 nominees for the Chief Justice post have accepted their nomination, according to the Supreme Court list late Monday afternoon.

Monday is the deadline for the submission of applications and nominations for the vacant top SC position.

Aside from acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, the others who accepted their nominations are:

1. SC Associate Justice Arturo Brion

2. SC Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro

3. SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco

4. SC Associate Justice Roberto Abad

5. SC Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno

6. Justice Secretary Leila De Lima

7. Professor Soledad Cagampang De Castro

8. Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno

9. Atty. Katrina Legarda

10.   Atty. Rafael Morales

11.   Dean Raul Pangalangan

12.   Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento

13.   Retired Judge Manuel DJ. Siayngco Jr.

14.   Dean Cesar Villanueva

15.   Ex-San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora

16.   Ferdinand Jose David Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Pijao Sr.

17    Atty. Vicente Velasquez

18.   Dean Amado Valdez

19.   Cagayan De Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez

20.   Manila RTC Judge Amelia Tria-Infante

21.   Atty. Vincent Veloso

22.  Presidential Commission on Good Government Andres Bautista

23. Securities and Exchange Commission Teresita Herbosa

24. Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza

While those who declined the nomination are the following:

1. SC Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta

2. SC Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo

3. SC Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes

4. SC Associate Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe

5. SC Associate Justice Jose Perez

6. SC Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin

7. Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez

8. Constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas

9. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago

10. Senator Franklin Drilon

11. Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francisco Villaruz

12. Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes

13. Cebu based Court of Appeals Associate Justice Gabriel Ingles

14. Appeals Court Justice Magdangal De Leon

15. Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa

16. Former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

17. Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Jacinto-Henares

18. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz

19. Government Peace Panel Chief Negotiator Marvic Leonen

20. Public Attorney’s Chief Persida Rueda Acosta

21. Former Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla

22. Dean Rodolfo Robles

23. Prosecutor Marianito Sasondoncillo

24. Integrated Bar of the Philippines President Roan Libarios

25. Former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo

26. Veteran Journalist Teodoro Locsin Jr.

27. Former Senator Rene Saguisag.

28. Former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez

Two have been disqualified, an applicant for being a non-lawyer and a nominee for being overage.

Monday is the deadline for the submission of nomination for the Chief Justice post. The JBC will start screening applicants on July 3.

The JBC said the deadline for the submission of other documentary requirements for the Chief Justice post is up to July 17.