Carpio made the statement during a chance interview after delivering a speech at the Central Luzon Integrated Bar of the Philippines regional convention in Pampanga.

 

"I will not turn down any challenge to lead the judiciary if given the opportunity," Carpio said, adding it was actually "part of his work" to do so.

 

Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) regular member for the academe Jose Mejia, however, told GMA News Online that they have yet to receive Carpio's acceptance of his endorsement.

"As per the JBC secretariat, wala pa kaming natatanggap as of Friday morning," Mejia said.

 

Carpio is currently acting as chief justice while the JBC searches for a possible replacement of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.

From the JBC's shortlist of at least three nominees, President Benigno Aquino III will have to pick an appointee.

 

Since assuming his post in 2010, Aquino has so far installed three justices at the high court: Associate Justices Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Jose Perez and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

 

All three justices and their remaining 11 colleagues have all been nominated to the post, but Bernabe, Mariano del Castillo, Bienvenido Reyes, and Jose Mendoza have already declined. 

 

Carpio is among five most senior justices automatically nominated for the post. He is joined by Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr, Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion, and Diosdado Peralta. - VVP, GMA News