Video by INQUIRER.net’s Tetch Torres/edited by Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno administered the oath of the newly appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Francis Jardeleza, whose nomination she has opposed.
Jardeleza is the 173rd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
His appointment was announced Wednesday morning, the last of the 90-day deadline for President Benigno Aquino III to choose among the shortlist of candidates.
Jardeleza almost did not make it after the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) last June submitted the shortlist of candidates to replace Associate Justice Roberto Abad who retired last May 22 despite getting the required number of votes. Sereno opposed his appointment due to questions on his integrity.
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno shook hands with newly appointed Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza after administering his oath of office.
Jardeleza took his case to the Supreme Court and asked that it compel the JBC to include him in the shortlist. The high court has supervision over the JBC chaired by Sereno. Malacañang supported Jardeleza’s bid and filed a comment with the high court.
Seven justices voted in favor of Jardeleza’s inclusion on the shortlist.
A day later, his appointment was announced.
“The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices look forward to his active, meaningful and effective participation in the work of the Court-bringing justice to our people through its decisions and making the courts more responsive to our people’s needs through meaningful reforms,” the high court statement said.
“The members of the Court are pleased that it is now a full court and that no vacancy in it has been allowed to remain longer than necessary. The court faces many challenges and much work remains to be done by all of us,” the statement read by high court’s Information Chief Theodore Te stated.
Jardeleza is the fifth appointee of President Aquino to the high court. Other appointees are Chief Justice Sereno, Associate Justices Estela Perlas Bernabe, Bienvenido Reyes and Marvic Leonen.
In a statement, Jardeleza said: “I am thankful for the trust and confidence that President Aquino exhibited in appointing me to the Supreme Court.”
He said that he will dispense his duties with competence, integrity, probity, and independence, “always bearing in mind the interests of the Filipino people.”
RELATED STORIES
Aquino appoints SolGen Jardeleza to SC
Palace denies pressuring JBC to appoint Jardeleza