The search for the 28th chief justice
In the Philippine hierarchy of official ranks, the president is the highest official of the land, followed by the vice president, the Senate president, the speaker of the House, then the Supreme Court chief justice as number 5 on the totem pole. But he has a far more important job than all the four preceding him because his court can nullify any and all executive and legislative action.
Justice Alexander Gesmundo, the 27th chief justice was born in Laguna in 1956, a graduate of Ateneo Law, and appointed by President Duterte on April 5, 2021. He will retire on November 6 after serving as chief justice for five years and 208 days. The 26th CJ was DiosdadoPeralta, born in 1952 in Ilocos Norte, graduate of UST, a Duterte appointee, and headed the SC for a year and 155 days. The 25th was Lucas Bersamin, born in Abra in 1949, also a Duterte appointee, and was CJ only for 326 days.
The 24th was Teresita de Castro, born in 1948 in Parañaque, a UP Law graduate, the first Duterte appointee as chief justice, and headed the SC for only 43 days. Before her was the unfortunate youngest appointee of PNoy, born in 1960 in Manila, a UP graduate, and was chief justice for five years and 259 days. She was unseated via a writ of quo warranto for failure to file her SALN. Thus she wasn’t given a number. The 23rd was Renato Corona. Born in Manila in 1948, UP, and appointed by GMA. He was CJ for only two years and 12 days. He was impeached due to wrong SALN.
The 22nd was Reynato Puno, born in Manila in 1940, UP Law, appointed by GMA and served for two years and 161 days. The 21st was Artemio Panganiban from Pampanga, born in 1946, FEU graduate and served as CJ for a year and 352 days. The 20th is our own pride of Cebu, Hilario Davide Jr., from Colawin, Argao, born in 1935, UP Law, an Erap Estrada appointee and served as CJ for seven years and 20 days. The 19th was Andres Narvasa, born in Manila in 1928, a UST graduate, last appointee of President Cory, and served for six years and 357 days.
The 18th was another pride of Cebu, born in 1927, Marcelo Fernan, UP Law, appointed by President Cory, and served for three years and 158 days. He resigned and ran for vice president but lost. The 17th was from Leyte, born in 1918, UP Law, appointed by President Cory and served only for 72 days. The 16th was Claudio Teehankee, born in Manila in 1918, Ateneo Law, number one in the Bar, the first CJ appointed by President Cory, and served for two years and 16 days.
The 15th and the last appointee of FM Sr. was Ramon Aquino, born in 1917 in Batangas, a classmate of FM in UP Law, and served for 106 days. The 14th was from Siaton, Negros Oriental, born in 1915, another classmate of FM in UP and served only for 117 days. The 13th was the colorful, if not controversial Enrique Fernando who was seen holding the umbrella for the first lady, was born in 1915 in Manila, UP Law, and served for six years and 22 days. The 12th was Fred Castro, an Ilocano, born in 1914, UP Law, and served for three years and 104 days.
I have no more space for the first up to the eleventh, except to mention them: the 11th was Querube Makalintal from Batangas, the one who signed my diploma as a member of the Bar. The 10th was Roberto Concepcion, ninth was Cesar Bengzon who was later appointed to the International Court of Justice. The eighth was Ricardo Paras, the seventh was Manuel Moran, the sixth Jose Yulo, the fifth Jose Abad Santos, the fourth Ramon Avancena, the third, Manuel Araullo (Araullo University), the second, Victorino Mapa (Mapa High School, and the first, Cayetano Arellano (Arellano University).
The choices for the 28th chief justice are Justices Mario Victor Leonen, my favorite, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Rodil Zalameda, who wrote the decision acquitting Imelda Marcos, and my good friend Japar Dimaampao and, of course, Vice President Sara Duterte's friend, Midas Marquez. I think I know who will get the post. My lips are sealed and I took the vow of omerta. We will know very soon.
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