CJ De Castro accepts resignation of SC spokesperson

Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro has accepted the resignation of Theodore Te as Supreme Court spokesperson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro has accepted the courtesy resignation of Public Information Office Chief, lawyer Theodore Te.

Te’s term as Supreme Court spokesperson is co-terminus with ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. His position was extended when Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, along with division chairpersons of the High Court, including De Castro signed his extension pending the appointment of a new chief justice.

“I believe that Your Honor should be given a free hand to craft your own media policies and to appoint a person whom Your Honor believes could best implement those policies,” Te said in his letter dated Aug. 29, 2018.

Te said he will be returning to full-time academic life “which I had to put on hold starting 2013 to be able to serve the judiciary and the Supreme Court.

“I respectfully believe that I would be of greater value to the judiciary and the Court in the academic world at this time,” he added.

Te also urged De Castro to retain all of the staff at the Public Information Office (PIO), some of whom were not holding plantilla positions.

Last week, Te met with De Castro to finalize the matter before he steps down on Sept. 7.

De Castro designated lawyer Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra, Deputy Chief of the SC PIO as Te’s replacement.

Guerra previously served as the High Court’s spokesperson after Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez left the SC PIO and until the appointment of Te. /cbb