MANILA, Philippines?President Aquino has appointed law professor Maria Lourdes Aranal Sereno as associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Sereno, 50, is currently the executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center. She will take the seat left by Renato Corona when he was named Chief Justice.

Sereno graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines? College of Law in 1984, and was the class valedictorian.

She holds a degree in economics from the Ateneo de Manila University and a master?s degree in law from the University of Michigan Law School.

?[Sereno?s appointment] surely indicates that [President Aquino] is serious in looking at the rule of law and the relation of law and economic development,? Dean Marvic Leonen of the UP College of Law said in a telephone interview.

?She is well regarded in the legal community,? Leonen said, adding that Sereno would join the Supreme Court with ?a lot of integrity.?

?We think that this is a good start. Certainly, it will match the President?s promise to bring back integrity in the government service,? he said.