MANILA — Two vacancies are set to open in the Supreme Court in 2026 as two justices reach the mandatory retirement age, giving President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. the opportunity to appoint new members to the high court, including a new chief justice.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, the 27th Chief Justice of the Philippines, will retire on Nov. 6, 2026, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Gesmundo has served on the Supreme Court for about eight years. He was appointed as an associate justice in 2017 and later named chief justice in 2021. During his tenure, the high court introduced the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI), which initiated reforms in the judicial system through the use of modern technology.

Another vacancy will arise with the retirement of Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier on Nov. 16, 2026. Lazaro-Javier was appointed to the Supreme Court in March 2019 and served as chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations.

Under the Constitution, the President has the authority to appoint members of the judiciary, including justices of the Supreme Court, from a shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council.