DAVAO CITY (August 25) — President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen Teresita Leonardo de Castro as the new Chief Justice.
De Castro, 69, will lead the post vacated by ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
But she will serve the post for only more than a month. She will retire on October 8 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
De Castro, is the second woman to serve as chief justice. .
She is the most senior justice vying for chief justice. She bested her two co-magistrates SC Justice Diosdado Peralta and Justice Lucas Bersamin.
Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, on the other hand, welcomed the appointment of de Castro.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said de Castro is the “best choice” for the post.
“Bravo! Best choice for CJ! Proven competence, known nationalist and a streak of being a judicial activist,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement sent to the media.-ezc/NewsLine
