President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appoints Supreme Court Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda as the country’s 28th chief justice

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 06, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda as the country’s 28th chief justice, replacing Alexander Gesmundo, who retires on Friday, November 6.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Lino Cayetano announced the appointment during a Palace briefing on Thursday, November 5.

Zalameda, 63, will lead the country’s highest court after more than three decades in the legal profession. His career spans the prosecution service, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court.

The appointment also makes him the first chief justice selected by Marcos since the President took office in 2022.

From prosecutor to chief justice

Zalameda joined the Supreme Court in August 2019 following his appointment by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Before that, he spent 11 years at the Court of Appeals, where he served as an associate justice and chaired its 17th Division.

He began his government career as a branch clerk at the Makati City Regional Trial Court after passing the Bar examinations in 1988.

He later entered private practice before returning to public service as a prosecutor in 1995. He became Mandaluyong City prosecutor in 2002.

Zalameda earned his law degree from Ateneo de Manila University in 1987. He also served on the editorial staff of the university’s law publications.

Cayetano said the President considered Zalameda’s extensive experience across several levels of the justice system.

The Palace expressed confidence that he would lead the judiciary with integrity, impartiality, and respect for the rule of law.

Chosen from five nominees

Zalameda was among five candidates shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which screens applicants for judicial positions.

The other nominees were Supreme Court Justices Marvic Leonen, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Japar Dimaampao, and Jose Midas Marquez.

As chief justice, Zalameda will lead the Supreme Court and oversee the administration of the country’s judiciary. The court serves as the final authority on constitutional questions and other cases brought before it.

He succeeds Gesmundo, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 after serving as chief justice since April 2021.

Before his retirement, Gesmundo received the Order of Lakandula with the Rank of Grand Cross (Bayani) from Marcos during a ceremony at Malacañang on November 4.

Gesmundo’s tenure included efforts to modernize court services through digital systems and changes to the administration of Bar examinations.