Castro on supposed ‘appointment’ as SC associate justice: ‘I didn’t apply’

MANILA, Philippines — Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Tuesday debunked a circulating report that she could be appointed as next associate justice of the Supreme Court (SC).

The unconfirmed report also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was eyeing Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda to succeed Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who will retire on Nov. 6.

The report said that this situation could open up a seat on the high court for Castro.

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READ: Claire Castro stays; she’s a ‘treasure in this gov’t’ – PCO Sec. Cayetano

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Castro, who is also a trial lawyer, owns a private law office in Quezon City and served as president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas chapter.

Apparently caught off guard by the question about her supposed appointment, Castro denied the report, saying she had not even applied for the position.

“Associate Justice of the Supreme Court? Me, Ante Claire? I didn’t apply for the position, so that is not true,” she quipped at a briefing in Cagayan de Oro City.

“Whoever the president chooses as the next chief justice of the Supreme Court, we should not preempt his decision,” she noted.

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“We can expect the president to choose from among qualified candidates. They are all good, of course, but some stand out,” she observed.

The Judicial and Bar Council concluded its interviews with candidates for the SC chief justice position on Monday.

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The candidates are Associate Justices Zalameda, Japar Dimaampao, Jose Midas Marquez, Marvic Leonen, and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

The report on Castro’s supposed upcoming new role came days after Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Lino Cayetano confirmed that Castro will remain the Marcos administration’s chief spokesperson. /apl