Manila, Feb. 11 -- The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Tuesday opened the filing of applications for the position of Supreme Court magistrate.

In an announcement, the JBC said the applicants will be for the vacancy when associate Justice Mario Lopez reaches compulsory retirement on June 4.

The replacement would be President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first appointee to the high court.

Lopez was appointed on Dec. 3, 2019 upon the retirement of former justice Francis Jardeleza.

The last appointment to the high court was Associate Justice Filomena Singh who was named to the tribunal on May 18, 2022, replacing retired associate justice Estela Bernabe.

Three justices will reach compulsory retirement before the end of Marcos term on June 202...