New CJ touches off revamp

The members of the three divisions of the Supreme Court (SC) were reorganized following the appointment of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro who will now head the SC’s First Division.

With De Castro in the First Division are Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Francis Jardeleza and Noel Tijam. Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin shall sit as working chairman.

The Second Division will be headed by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio with Associate Justices Estela Perlas Bernabe, Benjamin Alfredo Caguioa, Andres Reyes Jr. and Jose Reyes Jr. as members.

Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta will chair the Third Division with Associate Justices Marvic Mario Victor Leonen, Alexander Gesmundo, Andres Reyes Jr. and Jose Reyes Jr. as members.

The two Reyeses are the swing justices to complete the membership of five justices for every division.

Jose Reyes Jr., former Court of Appeals justice, was Duterte’s fifth appointee to the High Court, the others being Martires, Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Gesmundo.

He replaced Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 last 8 August.