Caguioa takes oath as Supreme Court justice

MANILA — Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno administered on Wednesday the oath office to the Supreme Court’s newest magistrate, Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

“It’s not the position that makes the man. It’s the man who justifies the position. I’ll try my best to justify it,” Caguioa told reporters in a brief interview after the ceremony.

Present at the oath-taking, aside from Sereno, were the other 13 Supreme Court magistrates, Department of Justice Acting Secretary Emmanuel Caparas and Caguioa’s family.

Caguioa, President Aquino’s classmate at the Ateneo de Manila University, was appointed presidential legal counsel in 2010 and DOJ chief in October 2015.

Caguioa replaced Justice Martin Villarama Jr. who retired early last Jan. 16 due to health reasons.  SFM