MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo took his oath of office before Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe on Monday afternoon.
Gesmundo is the fourth most senior justice of the Supreme Court. He is one of five magistrates automatically nominated for the Chief Justice position that was vacated upon the early retirement of Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta last March 27.
Of the five magistrates, the most senior is Bernabe, followed by Associate Justices Marvic Leonen and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa while Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando is the fifth most senior. Both Leonen and Caguioa opted out from the chief justice race.
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Keep on reading: Gesmundo swears in as new Supreme Court chief justice