SC divisions overhauled

The Supreme Court (SC) reorganized three of its divisions in view of the retirement of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr. and the appointment of SC Associate Justice Jose Reyes.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio signed the one-page Special Order 2585, dated 14 August 2018, ordering the revamp of the High Court and placing the new chairmen of the three divisions.

Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta shall sit as acting chairman of the First Division with the members of the group being Justices Mariano del Castillo, Francis Jardeleza and Noel Tijam. Alexander Gesmundo shall sit as acting member.

For the Second Division, Carpio will serve as chairman with Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and Andres Reyes Jr., as members. Justice Jose Reyes will be an acting member.

Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro will chair the Third Division with Justices Lucas Bersamin, Marvic Mario Victor Leonen and Gesmundo as members while Andres Reyes Jr. will be an acting member.

The most senior justices in this order are Carpio, De Castro, Peralta and Bersamin. Carpio did not apply for the position of Chief Justice following the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno.