MANILA – Supreme Court Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro told the executive and legislative branches of government to leave the high court alone in deciding on cases.
Speaking before justices, officials and employees on Monday, de Castro said the Supreme Court – its integrity in particular – will bear the brunt of any wrong decision.
“The other members of the coequal and independent branches should understand that, based on our constitutional order, the decisions reached by the justices of the Supreme Court, whether unanimously or by majority vote, must be respected,” said the newly appointed top judge.
“And each of the justices have studied meticulously the Constitution, the law, the rules, and the evidence on record, so we demand respect from the other members of the coequal and coordinate branch of government,” she added.
In addition, de Castro expressed confidence that the Supreme Court under her short term as chief justice will be independent.
“President Duterte appointed me without knowing me personally. I don’t think that the President would do anything that will impair the independence of the judiciary,” de Castro said.
“No one can claim superiority over the others, and we decide all cases – whether judicial or administrative – with one vote each,” she added.
De Castro, who Duterte chose over other nominees Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin, will serve for less than two months. On Oct. 8 she will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Her appointment made de Castro technically the first female chief justice.
The appointment of her predecessor, Maria Lourdes Sereno, was invalidated when the Supreme Court en banc voted to remove her – a decision that favored a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.
De Castro has been with the high court since 2007 when she was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Prior to that, she has worked at the Department of Justice and the Sandiganbayan.
When de Castro retires, the next five senior justices – Peralta, Bersamin, Antonio Carpio, Mariano del Castillo, and Estela Perlas Bernabe – will be automatically nominated to the position. /PN
