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.
