First-ever online interview for next SC chief set Friday

MANILA – The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Monday announced that the public interview of three senior associate justices vying for the Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice post will be held Friday via Zoom.

Scheduled for the first-ever online interview for applicants, due to the coronavirus disease 2019, are Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe and Associate Justices Alexander G. Gesmundo and Ramon Paul L. Hernando.

The three were nominated to replace Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, whose optional retirement will be effective on March 27.

Under JBC rules, the five most senior Associate Justices are automatically nominated for the post. However, no documents were received from Marvic Leonen and Alfredo Caguioa, who were the next most senior in terms of tenure in the high court after Bernabe.

Bernabe is set to retire on May 14, 2022.

Peralta was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte in October 2019, replacing Lucas Bersamin.

In December, Peralta announced he is stepping down, one year ahead of his mandatory retirement in 2022.