Who is Rodil Zalameda, the Philippines’ new chief justice?

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 05, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Supreme Court Public Information Office

Supreme Court Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda has been appointed as the country’s next chief justice, placing a veteran prosecutor and appellate court magistrate at the helm of the Philippine judiciary.

Zalameda succeeds Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who is set to retire on November 6 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. His appointment marks President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first selection of a chief justice.

Born on August 2, 1963, in Caloocan City, Zalameda earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from Ateneo de Manila University in 1987 under an academic scholarship. He passed the Bar examinations in 1988.

He began his career in the judiciary as a branch clerk at the Makati Regional Trial Court before entering private legal practice from 1990 to 1995.

Zalameda returned to government service as a public prosecutor in 1995. He later became Mandaluyong City prosecutor in 2002, at just 39 years old.

In 2008, he was appointed an associate justice of the Court of Appeals, where he served for 11 years and chaired its 17th Division.

His appointment to the Supreme Court came on August 6, 2019, under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. He was the first applicant to undergo the High Court’s newly introduced written examinations for magistrate candidates.

Before his appointment as chief justice, Zalameda was among five nominees endorsed by the Judicial and Bar Council. The shortlist also included Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Japar Dimaampao and Jose Midas Marquez.

During his public interview for the top judicial post, Zalameda outlined plans to introduce reforms in phases, beginning with identifying institutional priorities and establishing measurable benchmarks. He said the success of these initiatives should be assessed based on their impact on the public.

His career in public service has also earned him recognition from the Mandaluyong city government, which named him an Ulirang Mandaleño in 2010.

As chief justice, Zalameda will lead the Supreme Court and the judiciary, overseeing the administration of justice and helping guide the country’s highest court in resolving major legal and constitutional disputes.