The Philippine Daily Inquirer reports that as of Wednesday, June 13, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) had received 11 nominations and applications for Chief Justice. The names of the nominees are listed below:
- Department of Justice SEceretary Leila De Lima
- Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza
- Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Henares
- Women's rights advocate Atty. Katrina Legarda
- Retired Judge Manuel Siayngco Jr.
- Ateneo de Manila University law school dean Cesar Villanueva
- Inquirer columnist/former UP College of Law dean Raul Pangalangan
- Former Laguna Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Marianito Sasondoncillo
- Atty. Nepomuceno Aparis
- Atty. Rafael Morales, managing partner of the Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan law firm
- Jocelyn Esquivel, who claimed to be a nurse, submitted an application
The report noted that Esquivel, the 11th nominee, would most certainly be disqualified since the Constitution states that a Chief Justice "must have been for 15 years or more, a judge of a lower court or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines."
Aside from the 11 nominees, the five most seniour Supreme Court justices are also automatically in the running for the position: acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Associate Justice Arturo Brion, and Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta.
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