President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to make his first appointment to the Supreme Court (sc) after the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) released its shortlist of nominees Friday.

The vacancy arises from the upcoming mandatory retirement of Associate Justice Mario Lopez on 4 June 2025.

Among the 13 nominees is newly appointed Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe, who was included on the list before her formal appointment as the government’s top lawyer, replacing Menardo Guevarra.

Berberabe also serves as dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law.

Other nominees on the JBC shortlist include Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justices Nina Antonio-Valenzuela, Ramon Mariño Bato, Ramon Cruz, Maria Filomena Singh-Diy, Myra Garcia-Fernandez, Ronaldo Martin, and Walter Santos Ong; CA Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda; Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) Associate Justice Maria San Pedro; and Court Administrator Raul Villanueva.

The JBC conducted interviews with the nominees at the Supreme Court Session Hall from 14, 16 and 21 May.

Members of the JBC who participated in the interviews were Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, Professor Atty. Nesauro Firme, and former CTA Associate Justice Erlinda Piñera Uy.

Marcos’ upcoming selection will mark his first appointment to the 15-member Supreme Court, which is currently composed primarily of appointees from the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Two justices remain from the term of the late President Benigno Aquino III.