MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has formally appointed Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo as the new Supreme Court chief justice, Malacañang said Monday.
“Pinirmahan na po ni Presidente ang appointment ni dating Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo bilang bagong Chief Justice ng Korte Suprema ng Pilipinas,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.
This comes after Duterte’s chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo disclosed last week that Gesmundo was the President’s “personal choice” for the post.
Gesmundo replaces Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, who retired last March 27.
Duterte first appointed Gesmundo, who was chairperson of Sandiganbayan’s 7th Division, to the Supreme Court in 2017.
Gesmundo is Duterte’s fourth chief justice appointee after Chief Justices Teresita Leonardo De Castro, Lucas Bersamin, and Peralta.