Manila – President Rodrigo Duterte filled up the 15 associate justices’ post in the Supreme Court (SC) with the appointment of Court of Appeals (CA) justice Samuel Gaerlan.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed the appointment of Gaerlan with the latter taking his oath before Duterte at the Palace.
Gaerlan took over the post vacated by Diosdado Peralta, who was chosen by Duterte as SC chief justice last year, following the retirement of Lucas Bersamin in October.
Prior to his appointment to the CA in 2009, Gaerlan served as the presiding judge of the Municipal Trial Court in Bangar, La Union; Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 26 in San Fernando City; and RTC Branch 92 in Quezon City.
Gaerlan, who was a graduate of San Beda College of Law, was the 10th appointee of Duterte to the High Court, giving him a clear majority on pending crucial cases involving the administration.
Duterte earlier appointed Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr., Alexander Gesmundo, Jose Reyes Jr., Samuel Martirez, Ramon Paul Hernando, Amy Lazaro-Javier, Mario Lopez, and Edgardo Delos Santos.
Martires, however, did not last long at the High Court as he was appointed by Duterte to the Office of Ombudsman in 2018./PN
