Duterte appoints CA Jose Reyes as new SC Justice

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte witnesses the program proper during the 25th Annual National Convention of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP) held at The Bellevue Hotel Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol on June 28, 2018. RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr. as new Supreme Court (SC) Justice, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said on Friday.

“Jose Reyes Jr. new SC Justice,” Go said a text message to Palace reporters.

Go said Reyes will take his oath on August 13 (Monday).

Reyes is Duterte’s fifth appointee to the High Court, the others being Associate Justices Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr.

, and Alexander Gesmundo.

The 67-year-old Reyes was a topnotcher on the shortlist of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) submitted to the President after obtaining a perfect seven votes.

Others on the shortlist include Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez, former Ateneo Law School dean Cesar Villanueva and Reyes’ five fellow CA Associates Justices — Amy Lazaro Javier, Ramon Garcia, Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang and Ramon Paul Hernando.

He will replace SC Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 last August 8.

Prior to his appointment in the CA, where he served for 15 years, Reyes was a Metropolitan Trial Court judge in Pasig and Regional Trial Court judge in Rizal.

Like Duterte, Reyes is also a San Beda Law alumnus, who issued CA resolution granting the plea of the Executive Department for the immediate execution of the eviction order and takeover by the government of the assailed Mile Long Property from the Prieto-Rufino family.

The resolution also ordered them to pay back rentals of PHP1.

6 billion exclusive of its legal interest.

He also issued the order against the Prieto and Rufino clans to immediately vacate their Sunvar property.

Reyes was also one of the justices who issued the temporary restraining order halting the suspension of Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay.

Meanwhile, there are three more vacancies in the SC this year in view of the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno via quo warranto proceedings, the appointment of Martires as Ombudsman, and the upcoming retirement on October of Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro.