Robie de Guzman • August 20, 2019 • 538

(L-R) Supreme Court Senior Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Marvic Leonen

MANILA, Philippines – Supreme Court Senior Associate Justices Antonio Carpio and Marvic Leonen have declined their respective nominations for the chief justice post, the Supreme Court (SC) said on Tuesday.

The SC Public Information Office (PIO) confirmed this on its official Twitter account.

“Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio and Associate Justice Marvic MVF Leonen have declined their respective nominations as Chief Justice,” it said.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio and Associate Justice Marvic MVF Leonen have declined their respective nominations as Chief Justice vice CJ Lucas P. Bersamin who will compulsorily retire on October 18, 2019. — Supreme Court PIO (@SCPh_PIO) August 20, 2019

The SC said Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin is set to retire on October 18.

In a message to reporters, Carpio said he declined his nomination as he will also retire in October when he reaches the compulsory retirement age of 70.

Carpio has been serving the judiciary for 18 years.

Leonen on Monday said he also rejected his nomination to the SC top post but did not cite his reasons.

“There is no requirement to state our reasons for declining the nomination. For now, in my considered judgement, my decision is the right thing to do. I will be able to do what I do best for our people in my current position at this time,” he said in a statement.

He, however, gave assurance that he would be supportive of the next chief of the high court.

“As always, I am committed to giving my support to whoever is constitutionally appointed as the next chief justice,” he said.

Leonen, 56, is one of the most senior SC justices who are qualified for automatic nomination for the position.

Aside from Carpio and Leonen, other magistrates who are automatically nominated for the post are Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, Associate Justices Estella Perlas-Bernabe and Benjamin Caguioa.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has set August 20 for the deadline for applications and acceptance of nomination for the chief justice post.