Colonel Auditor Mateo Cercenado will preside over the Fifth Territorial Military Court

Royal Decree 823/2026, of October 8, appoints Colonel Auditor Mr. Jesús Manuel Mateo Cercenado as Auditor President of the Fifth Territorial Military Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The provision is adopted upon the proposal of the Plenary of the General Council of the Judiciary and is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) no. 256, of October 15, 2026, section II.A, page 137585 (BOE-A-2026-21456). The appointment fills the vacancy produced in the indicated court.

The royal decree is issued in accordance with article 599.1.4.ª of Organic Law 6/1985, of July 1, of the Judiciary; article 47 of Organic Law 4/1987, of July 15, on the Competence and Organization of the Military Jurisdiction; and articles 35 and following of Regulation 1/2025, of December 17, on the filling of discretionary appointment positions in judicial bodies. The proposal from the Plenary of the General Council of the Judiciary was adopted at its meeting on September 30, 2026.

The text appears signed by King Felipe VI and countersigned by the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, Félix Bolaños García, and by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles Fernández, dated October 8, 2026.

A vacancy announced twice

The position was not filled on the first attempt. Resolution 431/38123/2026, of March 2, from the General Directorate of Personnel of the Ministry of Defense, announced vacancy number 1/2026 for Auditor President of the Fifth Territorial Military Court (BOE no. 66, of March 16, 2026, BOE-A-2026-6111), with a monthly remuneration of 955.13 euros and the requirement of being a Colonel Auditor of the Military Legal Corps on active duty.

Upon the expiration of the application period without any applicants, Resolution 431/38321/2026, of July 7, declared the vacancy void (BOE no. 171, of July 15, 2026, BOE-A-2026-15392). A second call, Resolution 431/38350/2026, of July 29, announced the position again—this time as number 8/2026 and 995.13 euros per month—in BOE no. 191, of August 6, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-17090).

Career of the new president

• Jesús Manuel Mateo Cercenado appears in the BOE as a Territorial Military Judge stationed in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 2007 and 2011.
• In April 2026, he appeared as Lieutenant Colonel Auditor, president of the selection body of the Military Legal Corps for admission to military teaching training centers (BOE no. 94, of April 20, 2026, BOE-A-2026-8619).
• The now-published royal decree places him as Colonel Auditor at the head of the court based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Deadlines and means of appeal

• Contentious-administrative appeal before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the Supreme Court: two months from the day following publication.
• Optional appeal for reversal before the Plenary of the General Council of the Judiciary: one month from the day following publication.
• If the appeal for reversal is chosen, the contentious-administrative appeal may not be filed until the former is resolved or its presumed dismissal occurs.

The appointment reinforces the leadership of the military jurisdiction in the Canary Islands after nearly eight months of vacancy and an initial failed attempt at filling the position. The post is a discretionary appointment and has both jurisdictional and governmental character, meaning its holder assumes both the adjudicating function and the governing competencies of the military judicial body based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 256, of October 15, 2026, section II.A, page 137585 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-21456).