CJ candidates face grilling

The mettle of the five candidates for new Chief Justice (CJ) of the Supreme Court (SC) gets to be tested starting 16 August during the interviews to be conducted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Vying for the post vacated by ousted Maria Lourdes Sereno are SC Justices Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin, Andres Reyes Jr. and Tagum City, Davao del Norte Regional Trial Court Branch 1 Judge Virginia Tejano-Ang.

The three SC justices were automatic candidates being among the top five most senior in the highest court of the land.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio did not accept his automatic candidacy despite being the most senior among SC justices, in keeping with his vote that no impeachable official like Sereno can be removed except through impeachment.

Voting 8-6, the SC backed the quo warranto case filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno.

Carpio will be the Acting Chairman of the JBC during the vetting of the candidates for new CJ for the shortlist to be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte will choose the next CJ from that JBC shortlist.