Palace confident new Chief Justice Gesmundo will uphold judicial independence, implement reforms By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News
Published April 5, 2021 1:51pm Malacañang on Monday confirmed the appointment of Alexander Gesmundo as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (SC). Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during a news conference that President Rodrigo Duterte had signed the appointment paper of Gesmundo, successor of Diosdado Peralta who retired on March 27. Gesmundo’s appointment was previously disclosed to the media by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo. Roque expressed confidence that Gesmundo will continue to uphold judicial excellence and independence, promote the rule of law, and implement reforms to ensure the integrity and professionalism among members of the judiciary.
Duterte named Alexander Gesmundo as 27th Chief Justice Panelo By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News
Published April 2, 2021 1:49pm President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo as Chief Justice, a Malacañang official said Friday. “Yes,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said in a text message when asked to confirm Gesmundo’s appointment. Panelo added that Gesmundo was Duterte’s “personal choice” to succeed Diosdado Peralta, who left the judiciary on March 27, one year ahead of his compulsory retirement. Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque neither confirmed nor denied Gesmundo s appointment. “As a matter of SOP (standard operating procedure), judicial appointments are confirmed by my office only after they have been received by the Supreme Court. Given the long holiday, the earliest a judicial appointment can be received by the Court would be this Monday (April 5),” Roque said.
Leonen says he s currently not cut out for chief justice
Published January 29, 2021 4:48pm By NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS, GMA News Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, one of the tribunal s most senior magistrates, on Friday said he believes he is currently not cut out for chief justice. Leonen will be automatically nominated for chief justice when Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta retires in March, one year ahead of his mandatory retirement age. No comment yet, Leonen said when asked if he will accept. I am honored to have been automatically nominated, but that is also a function of seniority. But of course in my mind I am looking at what I should do, and more likely, I am better at supporting a chief justice rather than being one. But as I said, no comment, he said at a press conference hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.