Lopez, Delos Santos sworn in as newest justices of Supreme Court

The newest justices of the Supreme Court (SC) have taken their oath before Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, leaving only one vacancy that President Rodrigo Duterte has to fill in coming weeksweeks.

Associate Justice Mario Lopez was sworn in on Thursday, while Associate Justice Edgardo delos Santos took his oath Friday.

They succeeded Francis Jardeleza and Antonio Carpio, who retired last September and October, respectively.

Both Lopez and Delos Santos were justices of the Court of Appeals (CA) prior to their appointment to the High Court. Lopez was the chairperson of the 12th Division in Manila, while Delos Santos was based in Cebu.

Delos Santos will retire in 2022, Lopez in 2025.

Duterte's 11th and 12th SC associate justice appointees, the two are joining a tribunal that is filled mostly by picks of the incumbent president.

Meanwhile, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has scheduled for December 9 and 18 the interviews of candidates for the associate justice's post that Peralta vacated when he became chief justice last October.

Under the Constitution, the president has 90 days from the date of the vacancy to pick an appointee. He has to choose his appointee from the shortlist provided by the JBC. —NB, GMA News