Bersamin tells colleagues at SC: 'Please accept me'
MANILA, Philippines — “Please accept me.”
These were the words of Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin as he first led the flag-raising ceremony as the head of the judiciary on Monday morning.
During the flag ceremony, Bersamin addressed his colleagues for the first time as the head of the SC: “I know you have expected maybe another individual to be appointed to this office. I am not apologizing for myself.”
“I’m not apologizing for the president. I am here because I was appointed. So that should stop all speculations,” he added in a speech.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he adhered to the “seniority” tradition when he appointed Chief Justice Teresita De Castro, who retired in October this year.
Out of the five chief justice aspirants, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio was the most senior at the SC and had the longest experience at the high tribunal.
Duterte and Carpio do not see eye to eye on the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China. Malacañang earlier said the justice’s stand would not affect his chances for the post. But after the announcement on Duterte's chief justice pick, the Palace said that Carpio's earlier reluctance to accept his nomination cost him the appointment.
Bersamin was the second most senior justice at the Supreme Court but had the longest experience in working at the judiciary.
“I am an accidental chief justice but that is not a statement of apology. I do not apologize to anyone for having been appointed. That is the wisdom of a president who is the appointing power,” the chief justice added.
"Please accept me," Bersamin also said.
Bersamin said that he could not claim to be the “most senior,” but he has 32 years of experience working in the judiciary when he was appointed as a trial court judge in 1986.
The chief justice vowed that there would be continuity at the SC, and he would work to address the "persistent problems" in lower courts.
He encouraged his colleagues to come to his office should they experience the problems as well.
Bersamin is the 25th chief justice of the country. — Kristine Joy Patag
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