Jardeleza asks for 2-week leave after SC appointment

MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza immediately asked for a two-week leave effective two days after President Aquino appointed him to the post.

Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said in a statement Friday that Jardeleza asked Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno during his oath-taking to allow him to first wind up his affairs at the Office of the Solicitor General before he assumes his new post.

Jardeleza's leave starts Friday, Te said.

The 64-year-old former solicitor general replaced former Associate Justice Roberto Abad, who retired last May 22, and took his oath as the Supreme Court's 173rd justice on Wednesday.

Jardeleza applied for a Supreme Court post thrice in the past before he was appointed by Aquino following the return of his name to the Judicial and Bar Council's shortlist.

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