The Gesmundo court, after Chief Justice Peralta's retirement,

My good friend, fellow Law professor, and neighbor here in BF Homes, Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, retired quietly in the midst of the pandemic, one year ahead of his compulsory retirement, scheduled in 2022. Chief Justice Dado held the helm from October 23, 2019 to March 27, 2021. The president forthwith appointed Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, as the twenty-seventh chief justice of the nation. Justice Gesmundo was not the senior associate justice, thus bypassing three seniors, Justices Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, Mario Victor F. Leonen and Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, all appointees of former president Benigno S. Aquino III.

Earlier, President Duterte appointed justices Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro as the twenty-fourth chief justice who started in that position only from August 28, 2018 to October 10, 2010. But it was a fitting reward for a sterling judicial career. She replaced the ousted twenty-third chief justice, Ma Lourdes Sereno and was succeeded by my other BF Homes neighbor and also fellow Law professor, Lucas P. Bersamin who held the office as the twenty-fifth chief justice from November 26, 2018 to October 18, 2019. The president has appointed all the justices except the three Aquino appointees. Once Justice Bernabe retires next year as well as justices Rosmari Carandang and Edgardo delos Santos, then 13 out of the 15 justices will have been all Duterte appointees. This never happened before except during the Marcos years from 1966 to 1986, when he packed the highest court with all Ilocanos and former classmates and schoolmates from UP.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo was born in San Pablo, Laguna, on November 6, 1956 and earned his Law degree from Ateneo. Thus he will compulsorily retire on November 6, 2026 at age 70. His appointment proved that President Duterte isn’t partial to San Beda lawyers and lawyers from Davao. He did not promote the most senior, Antonio Carpio, and the young Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, who are both from Davao. Gesmundo is a career judge. He is also an author, Law professor, and Bar examiner. He was an associate justice of the Sandiganbayan, just like Chief Justice Dado Peralta. The second in command today is more senior to CJ Gesmundo in the Supreme Court, Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe who was the first PNoy appointee to the highest court. The third now in rank is the rather controversial, but very brilliant former UP Law Dean, Justice Marvic Leonen, the chairman of the 2020-2021 combined Bar exams.

Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, another Ateneo graduate, was a practicing lawyer and a partner in the Sycip Salazar law firm, when he was appointed as acting DOJ secretary, then from then on, to the Supreme Court. He is set to retire in 2029. The remaining most senior Duterte appointee is the youngest in age, born in 1966, Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando from Tuguegarao, Cagayan. He graduated from San Beda Law in 1990. He will remain in the court until 2036 and will have many chances to rise and become chief. Next to him is Rosmari D. Carandang, from Batangas, who is retiring this coming January 2022. She is an honor graduate from UP and a former trial judge and Court of Appeals justice. Next is my kumadre and fellow Law professor, young-looking Justice Amy L. Javier, will stay in court until 2026, a UST graduate and a former assistant solicitor general and appellate justice.

The rest are Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, younger brother of Comelec commissioner Socorro B. Inting and a graduate of Ateneo de Davao. Next is Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, retiring in 2029, a scholar and a graduate of Ateneo de Manila, a career judge and academician. Justice Mario V. Lopez, a San Beda graduate will retire in 2029. Justice delos Santos, from Palompon, Leyte, a graduate of USC, will retire in June 2022, but may opt to retire earlier. Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, from La Union, another Ateno graduate, will retire in 2028. Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, also retiring in 2028, also an Atenean from Pangasinan. Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez will stay in court until 2033. President Duterte will soon appoint the fifteenth member of the court. I hope a Cebuano will rise to the highest court of the land, to follow justices Briones, Yap, Fernan and, Davide.