BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – President Benigno Aquino III appointed Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza of Jaro, Iloilo City as new Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Jardeleza’s appointment was transmitted to the Supreme Court yesterday morning, said Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communication Operations Office.
Last night, Jardeleza took his oath before Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.
Jardeleza served as Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon in 2011 before becoming the Solicitor General in February 2012.
Jardeleza thanked the President for his “trust and confidence.”
“Rest assured I will dispense my duties with competence, integrity, probity, and independence,” said the new Associate Justice.
He vowed to put public interest first.
Born in 1949, Jardeleza finished his elementary education at Jaro Elementary School as valedictorian in 1961, and his secondary education at the University of the Philippines (UP) Iloilo High School in 1965 also as valedictorian.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at UP-Iloilo in 1969 and proceeded with his law studies.
In 1974 he graduated salutatorian and on the same year placed third in the bar exams.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, in a 7-4 vote, ordered the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to include Jardeleza in the short list of candidates who will replace retired Associate Justice Roberto Abad.
Sereno had opposed Jardeleza’s nomination due to “questions of integrity”.
The 65-year-old Associate Justice obtained his Masters of Law from the Harvard Law School three years after he was admitted to the bar.
Malacañang denied it railroaded Jardeleza’s appointment.
“There is no issue on his integrity. The President thinks he is the right person for the job,” said Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.
Fellow Ilonggo and Senate president Franklin Drilon welcomed Jardeleza’s appointment.
He does not expect a conflict between Jardeleza and Sereno who is also an appointee of the President.
“Under the Constitution, the prerogative to appoint is under the President. The limitation is that he chooses from the list made by the JBC,” said Drilon.
He described Jardeleza “an intelligent person” and “upright”./PN
