UPDATE: De Castro to serve as Chief Justice for 2 months
New Supreme Court Chief Justice Teresita de Castro FILE PHOTO
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita de Castro as Supreme Court Chief Justice, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go confirmed on Saturday.
However, De Castro’s stint as Chief Justice will be short – two months. She will retire on October 8 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, a member of the Judicial and Bar Council, said De Castro’s appointment papers would be released by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday, August 28.
De Castro, the most senior in the list of candidates submitted to the President, will replace Maria Lourdes Sereno who was ousted in June this year.
In her interview before the JBC, de Castro said her short term would not get in the way of her effectiveness as chief justice.
“It is not as if I am going to start today working on projects that will benefit the court,” she said.
De Castro was among the eight justices who voted to unseat Sereno.
Sereno, the first woman chief justice and the youngest to be appointed at age 52, could have been the country’s longest-serving top judge. Had she not been ousted, her term would have ended in 2030. She was appointed by then president Benigno Aquino 3rd in 2012.
The high court in May voted 8-6 to oust Sereno for her failure to file her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth before her appointment as Chief Justice.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. hailed De Castro’s appointment.
“Bravo! Best choice for CJ! Proven competence, known nationalist, and a streak of being a judicial activist!” Roque said.
Guevarra said de Castro’s appointment “is a fitting finale to her illustrious career.”
Catherine Valente
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