Manila: The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the filing of applications for the position of Supreme Court magistrate. The vacancy arises as Associate Justice Mario Lopez approaches compulsory retirement on June 4. This appointment will mark President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first opportunity to appoint a justice to the high court.

According to Philippines News Agency, Justice Mario Lopez was appointed on December 3, 2019, following the retirement of former Justice Francis Jardeleza. The most recent appointment to the Supreme Court was Associate Justice Filomena Singh, who joined the tribunal on May 18, 2022, succeeding retired Associate Justice Estela Bernabe. Looking ahead, three justices are set to reach compulsory retirement before the conclusion of Marcos' term in June 2028, including Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justices Amy Lazaro-Javier and Henri Paul Inting.

The Philippine Constitution stipulates that the Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices. The court may convene en banc or in divisions comprising three, five, or seven members. Justices are appointed by the President from a list of at least three nominees prepared by the JBC for each vacancy, without requiring confirmation from the Commission on Appointments.

Supreme Court members must possess proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence. They must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines, at least 40 years old, and have a minimum of 15 years of experience as a judge of a lower court or in law practice within the country. Justices serve until they reach the age of 70 or become incapacitated to fulfill their duties.