19 candidates vie for Supreme Court seat as Marcos picks second justice
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has released the list of 19 candidates vying for the next Supreme Court (SC) associate justice position, a seat that will be vacated by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro Javier upon her retirement on November 16. The list, made public on Friday, October 9, includes familiar names from the Court of Appeals and other government offices.
This appointment will be President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s second to the High Court, following the appointment of Associate Justice Raul Villanueva in 2025. The vacancy comes as Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo is also set to retire on November 6, setting the stage for a significant reshuffling of the judiciary's top ranks.
Who are the new applicants for the Supreme Court?
Eight new applicants have thrown their hats into the ring for the position. They will face the JBC in public interviews scheduled for October 13 and 15 as part of the council's selection process.
- Aldwin Flora Alegre (Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration)
- Jason Rueda Barlis (Chairperson, Legal Education Board)
- Geraldine Faith Abracia Econg (Presiding Justice, Sandiganbayan)
- Lily Villareal Biton (Associate Justice, Court of Appeals)
- Gamaliel Asis Cordoba (Chairperson, Commission on Audit)
- Solomon Mateo Hermosura (Government Corporate Counsel)
- German Quintos Lichauco II (Senior partner, Siguion Reyna, Montecillo, and Ongsiako law office)
- Ernesto Perez Maceda Jr. (Commissioner, Commission on Elections)
Which candidates from 2025 are still in the running?
The JBC also released the names of 11 candidates who applied in 2025. Their previous interviews remain valid, so they will not take part in the October 13 and 15 schedule:
- Nina Antonio Valenzuela (Associate Justice, CA)
- Fernanda Lampas Peralta (Presiding Justice, CA)
- Ramon Mariño Bato Jr. (Associate Justice, CA)
- Ronaldo Roberto Baquizal Martin (Associate Justice, CA)
- Darlene Marie Basco Berberabe (Solicitor General)
- Karl Belandres Miranda (Associate Justice, Sandiganbayan)
- Ramon Alcala Cruz (Associate Justice, CA)
- Walter Santos Ong (Associate Justice, CA)
- Maria Elisa Sempio Diy (Associate Justice, CA)
- Myra Virtucio Garcia Fernandez (Associate Justice, CA)
- Maria Rowena Modesto San Pedro (Associate Justice, Court of Tax Appeals)
What are the requirements to become a Supreme Court justice?
Section 7(1), Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution sets the basic qualifications: a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least 40 years old, and with 15 years or more of experience as a judge or in the practice of law.
On top of this, a JBC 2020 rule requires that an SC justice serve a minimum of 2.5 years. Since the mandatory retirement age is 70, candidates must be no older than 67.5 years old at the time of appointment.
What happens next in the selection process?
After the public interviews, the JBC will create a shortlist of at least three applicants to transmit to Malacañang. President Marcos, as the appointing authority, will make the final choice based on the JBC list.
The same process will be followed to screen candidates for the next chief magistrate, as Chief Justice Gesmundo's retirement approaches on November 6.
This is a moment that calls for sober reflection on the kind of judiciary we want. The next justices will shape rulings on issues that touch every Filipino, from local governance to national policy. We must choose wisely, with integrity and courage at the forefront.
As a nation, we look to these proceedings with hope that the chosen justices will serve with fairness and a deep respect for the law, upholding the dignity of every Filipino, whether in the bustling streets of Manila or the quiet barrios of our provinces.