De Castro to take oath as Chief Justice on Aug. 31

FILE: Supreme Court Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro. (Photo: Supreme Court of the Philippines)

MANILA — Newly-appointed Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro will take her oath before President Rodrigo R. Duterte this Friday (August 31), a Malacañang official said Monday.

Duterte’s top aide, Christopher “Bong” Go made this confirmation, noting that she was going to take her oath “at the earliest time” so that she can assume her official duties.

“(The) OP (Office of the President) has scheduled on Aug. 31 for CJ (chief justice) to visit Malacañang and take her ceremonial oath before PRRD,” Go said in a press statement.

“CJ appointee Justice de Castro has communicated to OP that she will endeavor to take her oath at the earliest time as soon as SC is in receipt of her appointment paper that she may assume and enter into judicial functions and duties as CJ,” he added.

In a chance interview, Duterte told reporters that his basis for appointing de Castro as the new chief justice is “seniority.”

“Sa lahat yan sa civil service, sa military, pati sa everybody, seniority and parang conveyor (In every agency, in the civil service, military, everybody, seniority and being a conveyor is the basis),” Duterte said.

“First, sino ‘yung nauna, sya ‘yung…and it will be the same for all justices, not only de Castro. Lahat yan sila (Who came first? It will be the same for all justices, not only de Castro. All of them),” he added, noting that it was a different story if the justices refused their appointment.

Duterte said there should be no cutting into the line when it comes to appointments and that it should also be free from political agenda.

“Lahat sa military ganun, walang singitan (That’s the case for everything in the military, there’s no cutting into the line).

In the civil service, no political colors included. Bawal yan (That’s not allowed). So merit system,” he said.

The President, meanwhile denied an opposition lawmaker’s claim that De Castro’s appointment was Duterte’s reward for voting for the ouster of former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Magdalao Rep. Gary Alejano earlier described de Castro’s appointment as “bayad-utang” (payment for debt).

Duterte shrugged off Alejano’s remark, saying he “had yet to hear” the lawmaker says “something without malice.”

Not familiar

He also emphasized how he was “not familiar” with any of the justices shortlisted as chief justice since he was not a practitioner in Manila, having been Mayor in Davao City for over 20 years.

“Sino ‘yung nauna pumasok siya yung unang ma-promote (Who came in first, that’s who will get promoted),” he said. “And that would go for everybody. I am not familiar with any of them actually. Wala akong kilalang justice na ‘yung personal (I don’t know any justices personally).”

“Truthfully I have never talked to anyone there. Wala akong kilala (I don’t know them). They’re all strangers to me. Remember na hindi naman ako practitioner ng Maynila e (Remember, I’m not a practitioner in Manila),” he added.

Based on seniority, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who earlier declined his nomination as chief justice, will still head the second division.

Asked if Duterte considered Carpio’s appointment, he said the senior associate justice has already stated publicly that he is not going to accept the position.

“He stated publicly that he’s not going to accept so why force the person to accept a task he does not want?” Duterte said.

On Saturday (Aug. 25), Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed that de Castro is the new Supreme Court Chief Justice.

“Justice de Castro is the new CJ. I have been informed that the President’s choice has been publicly announced by SAP Bong Go and that the formal appointment will be released by Executive Secretary (Salvador) Medialdea on Tuesday,” Guevarra said in a message sent to reporters.

De Castro will only be serving as the country’s top judge for less than two months as she will retire this year when she reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 on October 8.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier described de Castro as the “best choice” for chief justice saying she had proven competence for the position.