MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Alexander Gesmundo as the new Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice.
Malacañang confirmed the appointment on Monday as it vouched for Gesmundo’s competence on the said post.
“Hindi na bago si Chief Justice Gesmundo sa hudikatura na kanyang pinagsilbihan ng maraming taon bilang associate justice ng Kataas-taasang Hukuman at bilang associate justice ng Sandiganbayan,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
The 64-year-old newly appointed Chief Justice is expected to maintain SC’s excellence and independence, promote the rule of law, and preserve its professional integrity according to Roque.
Gesmundo was appointed to replace the spot of former Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta who retired on March 27. He will serve as the country’s top magistrate until Nov. 6, 2026.
Duterte’s previous SC Chief Justice appointees were Teresita de Castro, Lucas Bersamin, and Peralta.
Gesmundo obtained his law degree from Ateneo de Manila University in 1984 and passed the Bar examinations the following year.
He entered government service as trial attorney at the Office of the Solicitor General in August 1985 and was awarded the Most Outstanding Solicitor in 1998.
He was also a former Sandiganbayan Associate Justice and had served as commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government from July 17, 1998 to Feb. 15, 2001 and became Assistant Solicitor General in August 2002.
Chief Justice Gesmundo was appointed as Supreme Court’s Associate Justice on Aug. 14, 2017./PN
