Duterte names Jhosep Lopez as Supreme Court justice

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has named Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Jhosep Lopez as Supreme Court Associate Justice, completing the 15-seat roster of the high court.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed Lopez’s appointment in a Palace press briefing on Tuesday.

“Kinukumpirma ko po na ang dating CA Justice Jhosep Lopez ay naitalaga na po bilang Associate Justice ng Korte Suprema (I confirm that former CA Justice Jhosep Lopez was appointed as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court),” he said.

He said the President signed Lopez’s appointment paper on Jan. 25.

“Inaasahan ng Pangulo na paiiralin ni Justice Lopez ang judicial independence at rule of law at ipagpapatuloy niya ang mga reporma sa ating court processes (The President hopes that Justice Lopez will enforce judicial independence and rule of law and will continue to reform our court processes),” he added.

Lopez will fill the spot vacated by Associate Justice Priscilla Baltazar Padilla, who retired last year at 62, eight years ahead of the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges.

He has repeatedly applied for an SC post. The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has also included him in its shortlist of nominees several times.

Prior to his stint at the CA, Lopez was Manila’s chief prosecutor starting in February 2006.

He also served as councilor of Manila’s 3rd District from 1992 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2006.

Lopez graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines Diliman, graduating cum laude.

He went to law school in the same university in 1984.

While Lopez completes the 15-seat bench of the high court, there will be a new vacancy in the Supreme Court when Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta retires in March.