Hours before the closing of recommendation and application of nominees in the highest juidicial post in the country, acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday accepted his recommendation to vie for the chief justice position of the Supreme Court.

 

In a text message to reporters, Judicial and Bar Council academe representative Jose Mejia said they have received the acceptance letter of Carpio on Monday afternoon.

 

Being the most senior justice within the 14-member high court, Carpio was automatically appointed as acting chief justice while the JBC searched for a possible replacement of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.

 

His seniority likewise earned him an automatic nomination in the chief justice position.

 

The appointing official, President Benigno S.C. Aquino III, will have to choose from the shortlist of at least three nominees that the JBC will forward to him. He has until August 27 to take his pick.

 

All 14 justices have been recommended or automatically nominated for the chief justice post but Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Mariano del Castillo, Bienvenido Reyes, and Jose Mendoza have already declined.

 

Joining Carpio in the chief justice search are Associate Justices Arturo Brion and Roberto Abad.

 

Other justices have until 5 p.m. Monday, July 2, to accept or decline their recommendation to the chief justice position. — RSJ, GMA News