Manila, Philippines — Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe, who was only recently appointed to her current post, has been included in the Judicial and Bar Council’s (JBC) shortlist of nominees for the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Berberabe ranks third on the list of 12 candidates released by the JBC, which was formed following public interviews of the applicants. The selection process aims to find a replacement for Associate Justice Mario Lopez, who is set to retire on June 4, 2025.

The official shortlist has been submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and was signed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

The 12 individuals shortlisted for the vacancy are:

Nina Geluz Antonio-Valenzuela

Ramon Mariño Bato, Jr.

Darlene Marie Basco Berberabe

Ramon Alcala Cruz

Maria Elisa Sempio Diy

Myra Virtucio Garcia-Fernandez

Fernanda Lampas Peralta

Ronaldo Roberto Baquizal Martin

Karl Belandres Miranda

Walter Santos Ong

Maria Rowena Modesto San Pedro

Raul Bautista Villanueva

The President is expected to appoint one of the shortlisted individuals to the Supreme Court bench following the retirement of Justice Lopez. The appointment will be closely watched as it could influence the direction of key decisions in the country’s highest court.