President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin to replace Vic Rodriguez as his executive secretary, Malacañang confirmed Tuesday.

Marcos administered Bersamin's oath of office before holding a Cabinet meeting at Malacañang Palace in Manila, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a press statement.

"He began his duties immediately by attending the 9th Cabinet meeting right after swearing in," she said.

Prior to his appointment, Bersamin served as chairperson of the Government Service Insurance System under the leadership of Marcos' predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

He served as Associate Justice in the Court of Appeals in March 2003 before getting appointed to the Supreme Court as Associate Justice in 2018 and later as Chief Justice.

He is a native of Bangued, Abra, and was a Bar topnotcher from the University of the East.

During his brief stint as Chief Justice, Bersamin restored collegiality in a bench marred by disagreements and public quarrels.

He was the second most senior when he was appointed by Duterte.

However, he was the most senior in terms of overall years in the judiciary.

In defending his decisions that favored the Duterte administration, Bersamin said the High Court, as a general rule, is a judicially restrained institution, "because we respect the separation of powers."