PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has picked Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Teresita de Castro as the top magistrate of the country.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed that De Castro, who is set to reach the mandatory retirement on October 8, replaced ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
"Her (De Castro) appointment as chief justice is a fitting finale to her illustrious career in both the Department of Justice and the judiciary," Guevarra said.
Malacañang will release De Castro's appointment paper on Tuesday, August 28, Guevarra said.
In a separate statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque lauded the appointment of De Castrom, whom he described as the "best chief" for the top position in the high tribunal.
"Bravo!" Roque said. "[De Castro has] proven competence, [is] known nationalist and [has] a streak of being a judicial activist."
De Castro, who has served in government for 45 years, is the most senior among the SC justices vying for the chief justice post.
She is the second woman to serve as chief justice.
Before joining the SC, De Castro was presiding justice at the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.
De Castro is University of the Philippine Alumna. She ranked fourth when she graduated in her law school class.
De Castro was among the associate justices who voted to oust Sereno, the first woman SC chief justice, through the quo waranto proceedings initiated by Solicitor General Jose Calida.
Prior to the announcement, De Castro was one of those who are currently facing an impeachment complaint before the House of Representatives for alleged violation of the 1987 Constitution and betrayal of public trust over Sereno's ouster. (VoxPop Philippines)
