Interviews for next chief justice begin

Members of the Judicial and Bar Council panel Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Rep. Gerville Luistro, with other lawyers and retired justices conduct interviews for the position of chief justice on Oct. 22, 2026.

SC Office of the Spokesperson

MANILA, Philippines — Interviews for aspirants seeking to become the country's next chief justice began on Thursday, October 22.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) began its public interviews with two of the Supreme Court's most senior justices.

In the morning, the JBC started its interview of Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa is set to face the panel in the afternoon.

Both Leonen and Caguioa were appointed by former President Benigno Aquino III. They are the two most senior incumbent justices of the high court.

Among the JBC members present on the first day of interviews were Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas' 2nd District, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, retired Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Erlinda Piñera Uy, lawyer Jose Mejia and law professor Nesauro Firme.

The next round of interviews is scheduled for October 26, when Associate Justices Rodil Zalameda, Japar Dimaampao and Jose Midas Marquez are set to face the panel.

Former presidential candidate, lawyer and doctor Jose Montemayor also applied for the chief justice position.

However, Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting earlier said the JBC did not consider Montemayor for the position.

Gesmundo is set to retire on November 6 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

His retirement will give President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. his first opportunity to appoint a chief justice. Marcos has so far appointed one justice to the Supreme Court, Associate Justice Raul Villanueva, in June 2025.