SC reorganizes 3 divisions as de Castro assumes CJ post

FILE: Facade of the Supreme Court Building (Photo By Aerous – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has reorganized its three divisions following the appointment of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro.

De Castro, aside from being the High Court’s top magistrate of the full court, will also head the SC’s First Division with Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Francis Jardeleza, and Noel Tijam as members, while Associate Justice Lucas P. Bersamin shall sit as working chairman.

The Second Division will be headed by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio with Associate Justices Estela M. Perlas Bernabe, Benjamin Alfredo S. Caguioa, Andres B. Reyes Jr., and Jose C. Reyes Jr. as members.

Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta will chair the Third Division with Associate Justices Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, Alexander G. Gesmundo, Andres B. Reyes Jr. and Jose C. Reyes Jr. as members.

The two Reyeses are the swing justices to complete the membership of five justices for every division.

Jose Reyes Jr., a former CA Justice, is Duterte’s fifth appointee to the High Court, the others being Martires, Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr., and Gesmundo.

He replaced Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 last August 8.

At present, there are only 13 justices in the 15-member High Court.

The two associate justice posts became vacant when de Castro was named Chief Justice and retired Associate Justice Samuel R. Martires’ was appointed as Ombudsman.

The SC meets as a full court every Tuesday without prejudice to holding special sessions to tackle urgent cases. Its divisions hold sessions Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the nomination for SC Associate Justice post, which was vacated by Martires.

Martires has filed for an early retirement, which was granted by the High Court’s en banc, after he was chosen by President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales – whose term ended on July 26.

The JBC, in its announcement, said applications or recommendations with letter of acceptance and other documentary requirements must be submitted on or before September 3.

The rules require applicants to submit documentary requirements, including their complete sworn statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for the previous years.

All applicants must also submit the results of the medical examinations that they took within the past six months.

The JBC has yet to open the associate justice post vacated by de Castro.

The JBC is constitutionally-mandated to screen and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.