The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has deferred the screening of Supreme Court associate justice applicants due to the coronavirus pandemic. Associate Justice Andres Reyes is retiring May 8; hence, the screening. Headed by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, the JBC is supposed to conduct its public interview, but this was postponed due to the Luzon-wide lockdown. The applicants to the post are mostly justices of the Court of Appeals — Manuel Barrios, Ramon Cruz, Nina Antonio-Valenzuela, Ricardo Rosario, Japar Dimaampao, Ramon Bato, Jhosep Lopez, Eduardo Peralta, Edwin Sorongon, Pablito Perez and Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla. Also applying again for the post are Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez. The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees and provide a list where the President may base his selection. JBC is chaired by Peralta with ex-officio members Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. Retired Supreme Court justice Jose Catral-Mendoza heads the executive committee, retired judge Toribio Ilao represents the private sector, and retired judge Franklin Demonteverde and retired Supreme Court justice Noel Tijam serve as the other regular members.
