Remedios Salazar-Fernando named new CA presiding justice

Court of Appeals (CA) Acting Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando takes her oath as CA presiding justice before Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta at the En Banc Session Hall. Photo from Supreme Court PIO

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Remedios Austria Salazar-Fernando as CA’s new presiding justice, Malacañang said Wednesday.

“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed the appointment of Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Remedios Austria Salazar-Fernando as CA Presiding Justice on November 24, 2020,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

“We are confident that Presiding Justice Fernando would serve the CA with the same judicial excellence, dedication and integrity she demonstrated in her years of service at the CA,” he added.

Before her appointment, Salazar-Fernando was already CA’s acting presiding justice after then-presiding justice Romeo Barza’s retirement in 2019.

Salazar-Fernando was sworn in Wednesday by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, the Supreme Court said.

Court of Appeals (CA) Acting Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando takes her oath as CA Presiding Justice before Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta at the En Banc Session Hall. pic.twitter.com/0TMma8E9tQ

— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) November 25, 2020

The new CA presiding justice has a psychology degree from the College of the Holy Spirit. She earned her law degree at the Ateneo De Manila University.

Salazar-Fernando started her public career as a Supreme Court law clerk before working for the Office of the President’s Presidential Management Staff.

Before her appointment to the CA in 1999, she was chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and served as a commissioner at the Commission on Elections. [ac]