The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) opened yesterday the application for candidates to the post of Chief Justice to be included in a shortlist from which President Duterte will choose the next head of the judiciary.

The Tribunal’s top position was vacated after the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno through a quo warranto petition of Solicitor General Jose Calida.

President Rodrigo Duterte needs to appoint Sereno’s replacement by September.

“The application for the position of Chief Justice was opened. The deadline for filing and completing all requirements is on July 26, 2018,” a statement released by the Supreme Court (SC) Public Information Office yesterday said.

The only requirements cited are that the candidate for Chief Justice should be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines and should possess “proven competence, integrity, probity and independence.”

The JBC is the constitutional body mandated to screen applicants to the judiciary and top Ombudsman posts.

The JBC is currently chaired by Senior Associate Justice, now acting Chief Justice, Antonio Carpio, with ex-officio members being Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Senator Richard Gordon and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali.

Its regular members include retired SC Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, representing the justices and chair of the JBC Executive Committee; Atty. Jose Mejia, representing the Academe; Atty. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and retired Judge Toribio Ilao, representing the private sector.

The SC added that the five most senior Associate Justices of the SC are automatically nominated, subject to the submission of a written acceptance of nomination to be submitted on or before July 26.

The five most senior magistrates are Antonio Carpio, Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin.

Velasco is, however, retiring on Aug. 8 and, thus, will no longer seek candidacy.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who also sits in the seven-member JBC, said there are no new or additional requirements for aspirants vying for the top magistrate post.

Asked if the JBC would exclude women from applying for the highest judicial office, Guevarra said: “The JBC will submit to the President a shortlist of applicants, men and women alike.”

“Once on the President’s desk, it’s completely up to him (to choose the next Chief Justice),” he added.

The justice secretary said the selection for Sereno’s successor will be “based on merits and qualifications, and in accordance with the JBC rules.”