President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not interfere in the judiciary’s affairs as the selection process for the next chief justice begins, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos has not given instructions on which cases the next chief justice should prioritize, stressing that such decisions belong to the Supreme Court.
“Walang napag-usapan, nasa kamay na po iyan ng Supreme Court, nasa kanilang priority kung anong uunahin nilang desisyunan na kaso (Nothing has been discussed. That is already in the hands of the Supreme Court and it is up to them to determine which cases they will prioritize for resolution),” Castro said during a press briefing.
“So, hindi po nagdidikta ang Pangulo sa mga ginagawa ng mga korte (the President does not dictate what the courts should do),” she added.
Castro said the President’s evaluation of potential candidates for the post is still ongoing and that there is no shortlist yet.
She said Marcos considers all those who will apply for the position qualified and capable.
“Ayon sa Pangulo, lahat naman po na mag-a-apply bilang chief justice, lahat po sila ay magagaling, hindi po nila mararating ang ganyang estado kung hindi sila magagaling (According to the President, everyone who will apply for the position of chief justice is qualified and capable. They would not have reached that level if they were not competent),” Castro said.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo is set to retire on Nov. 6 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the application and nomination process for Gesmundo’s successor, with the deadline set for Oct. 13, 2026. The five most senior associate justices of the Supreme Court were invited to apply: Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Ramon Paul Hernando, Henri Jean Paul Inting and Rodil Zalameda.
Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo Brion has separately nominated Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez for the post, while the Association of Retired Regional Trial Court Judges of the Philippines has also endorsed him.
The Supreme Court said Leonen will serve as acting chief justice once Gesmundo retires and until a permanent successor is appointed and qualified. Under the Judiciary Act of 1948, the most senior associate justice exercises the duties and powers of the chief justice when the position is vacant.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the President appoints the next chief justice from a shortlist submitted by the JBC. The President has 90 days to make the appointment after the vacancy occurs.
The JBC is constitutionally tasked with screening and recommending nominees for judicial appointments, while the final appointment of the next chief justice rests with the President.
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