By Jeffrey Damicog
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has begun accepting applications for the next chief justice of the Supreme Court (SC).
Judicial and Bar Council (MANILA BULLETIN)
In its announcement dated July 5, JBC declared that interested applicants have until August 20 to submit their application or recommendation along with all the documentary requirements.
“The date of actual receipt by the JBC of the complete documentary requirements of the applicant or recommendee shall be deemed as the date of filing,” read the JBC announcement signed by Clerk of Court and JBC Ex Officio Secretary Edgar Aricheta.
“The qualification of applicants shall be reckoned from the said deadline,” it added.
The JBC opened the applications in anticipation of the October 18 compulsory retirement of Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin.
Bersamin, who will turn 70-years old on October 18, is the son of late former Abra Governor Dr. Luis Bersamin Sr.
His two brothers were also politicians in the province, namely, late Abra Lone District Rep. Luis Bersamin Jr. and former Abra Governor Eustaquio Bersamin.
Bersamin graduated from the University of the Philippines (UP) with a political science degree in 1968 and then a law degree on 1973 from the University of the East (UE).
He has been a magistrate of the SC since his appointment on March 10, 2003 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The magistrate took on the mantle of chief justice when President Rodrigo Duterte named him to the post on November 28, 2018 to replace former Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro .
Prior to becoming SC magistrate, Bersamin served as Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 96 presiding judge and later Court of Appeals (CA) justice.