MANILA— The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. its shortlists of nominees for chief justice and Supreme Court (SC) associate justice ahead of the scheduled retirements of two members of the high court in November.

The JBC transmitted the lists on October 29, 2026, following the impending retirement of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo on November 6 and Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier on November 16.

Five magistrates were included in the shortlist for chief justice: Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, Rodil V. Zalameda, Japar B. Dimaampao, and Jose Midas P. Marquez.

Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando and Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, two of the five senior SC justices, withdrew their acceptance of their respective nominations.

For the associate justice post, the JBC nominated 10 candidates from various government offices and courts.

They are Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon M. Bato Jr.; Solicitor General Darlene Marie B. Berberabe; Commission on Audit Chairperson Gamaliel A. Cordoba; CA Associate Justices Ramon A. Cruz, Maria Elisa Sempio Diy, and Myra V. Garcia-Fernandez; CA Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta; Commission on Elections Commissioner Ernesto P. Maceda Jr.; CA Justices Ronaldo Roberto B. Martin and Walter S. Ong; and Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Maria Rowena M. San Pedro.

The council began the selection process for chief justice by announcing the list of applicants on October 17, followed by public interviews at the SC En Banc Session Hall on October 22 and 26.

For the associate justice vacancy, the JBC released the list of applicants on October 8 and conducted public interviews on October 13 and 15 at the SC Division Hearing Room and the CA Session Hall.

The JBC is constitutionally tasked with recommending nominees to the President for vacancies in the Judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Operating under the supervision of the Supreme Court, the council is composed of the chief justice as ex officiochairperson, the justice secretary, a representative of Congress, a representative of the Integrated Bar, a law professor, a retired Supreme Court member, and a representative of the private sector.

Under Article VIII, Section 4(1) of the Constitution, vacancies in the Supreme Court must be filled within 90 days from the occurrence of the vacancy.