SUPREME COURT (SC) Associate Justices Lucas P. Bersamin and Diosdado M. Peralta have formalized their bid for the position of chief justice by accepting their nominations. This was confirmed yesterday by Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), to reporters. He said Mr. Bersamin was the first to accept his nomination while Mr. Peralta “submitted his papers” to the JBC on Wednesday. The two are among the five most senior SC justices automatically nominated for the high court’s top position. The other senior justices are Antonio T. Carpio, Mariano C. Del Castillo, and Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe. The deadline for the application and submission of requirements is Monday, Oct. 15. Former Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro stepped down on Oct. 10 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Meanwhile, two new associate justices of the Court of Appeals have been appointed: Loida S. Posadas-Kahulugan, replacing Socorro B. Inting who is now a Commission on Elections commissioner; and Evalyn M. Arellano-Morales, who is taking over the post vacated by Mechor Quirino C. Sadang who retired last year. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Arjay L. Balinbin

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