The Judicial and Bar Council is in the middle of interviewing five Supreme Court associate justices, all vying to be the country's next top magistrate as Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo retired in November.
They are Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda, Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, and Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez.
Who will be the next Chief Justice?
Here are brief profiles of the candidates.
Marvic Leonen
Leonen was appointed to the SC by then President Benigno Aquino III on November 21, 2012.
Prior to his appointment, he served as chairman of the Government Negotiating Panel in Talks with the the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process from 2010 to 2012.
He also served as the former dean of the University of the Philippine (UP) College of Law from 2008 to 2012.
He was the Vice President for Legal Affairs for UP Diliman from 2004 to 2008, the General Counsel of UP Diliman from 2000 to 2003, and the Director for the UP Diliman Office of Legal Aid from 1998 to 2000.
Leonen was also the former Vice Chairperson of Friends of the Earth International.
The senior associate justice was also a founding member and former executive director of the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center and the Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo.
He was also a member of the Alternative Law Group Network and the Free Legal Assistance Group.
Leonen graduated with an AB Economics degree, magna cum laude, from the School of Economics in 1983. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the College of Law in 1987.
Leonen also earned a Master of Laws degree from the Columbia Law School of Columbia University in New York.
Benjamin Caguioa
Caguioa was appointed to the SC by Aquino on January 22, 2016.
He also served as Secretary of the Department of Justice and Chief Presidential Legal counsel under the Aquino administration.
Caguioa also chaired the Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture, and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons as well as the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
Prior to his government service, Caguioa was a lawyer for SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan (SyCip) in 1986. He served as partner of the law firm from 1994 to 2007.
Caguioa withdrew from SyCip and founded Caguioa & Gatmaytan Law Firm in February 2007.
He graduated with an AB Economics degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1981 and graduated with honors from its College of Law in 1985.
Caguioa was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1986 and ranked 15th in the 1985 examinations.
Rodil Zalameda
Zalameda was appointed to the SC by then President Rodrigo Duterte on August 6, 2019.
Prior to this, he was an associate justice of the Court of Appeals for 11 years and served as the chairperson of its 17th Division.
He was also a Branch Clerk of the Makati Regional Trial Court.
Zalameda was appointed as City Prosecutor of Mandaluyong in 2002 and served as a public prosecutor in 1995.
He privately practiced law from 1990 to 1995.
Zalameda obtained his Bachelor of Laws Degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1987. He passed the Bar Examinations in 1988.
Japar Dimaampao
Dimaampao was appointed by Duterte to the SC on July 2, 2021.
Dimaampao served as associate justice of the CA for more than 17 years since 2004 and served as the chairperson of its 3rd Division prior to his appointment.
He also served as a Legislative Staff Officer and as a Political Affairs Assistant IV at the House of Representatives, as a court attorney of the CA, as a senior state prosecutor at the Department of Justice, and as a presiding judge and executive judge of the Mandaluyong City RTC.
Dimaampao graduated from the University of the East College of Law and is a certified public accountant.
Midas Marquez
Marquez was appointed by Duterte to the SC on November 16, 2021.
Before this, he served as a court administrator for 12 years starting in January 2010.
Marquez first joined the SC as an apprentice in 1991 and then later became a law clerk in the Office of Associate Justice Abraham Sarmiento.
He became a court attorney VI in 1995 after occupying various positions in the Offices of Senior Associate Justices Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera and Josue Bellosillo.
In 1999, he was appointed as Deputy Secretary of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
He also served as then Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s chief of staff from 2006 to 2010.
During this time, he also held the posts of Assistant Court Administrator, Chief of the Public Information Office, and Spokesperson of the Court.
Marquez obtained both his AB in Economics and his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1994.
How is the Chief Justice chosen?
Under Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution, the Chief Justice, other members of the SC, and judges of the lower courts are appointed by the President from a list of at least three nominees prepared by the JBC for every vacancy.
The Constitution states that such appointments need no confirmation.
He shall hold office during good behavior until he reaches the age of 70 or becomes incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office.
Gesmundo is set to compulsorily retire on November 6 at the age of 70. –NB, GMA News
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