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Duterte picks CA Justice Jose Reyes Jr. for SC justice post


President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Court of Appeals Justice Jose Reyes Jr. to the Supreme Court following the retirement of Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. this week, a Palace official said Friday.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go confirmed to GMA News Online the appointment of Reyes, a graduate of Duterte’s alma mater San Beda University College of Law.

The 67-year-old Reyes, who is currently in the United States, will take his oath of office on August 13, according to Go.

Reyes edged out Court Administrator Midas Marquez, CA justices Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang, Ramon Garcia, Ramon Hernando, Amy Lazaro-Javier, and former Ateneo De Manila University College of Law Dean Cesar Villanueva for the post.

Born on September 18, 1950, Reyes earned his law degree from San Beda and passed the Bar exams in 1977.

He was presiding judge at the Metropolitan Trial Court in Rizal and executive judge of the Rizal Regional Trial Court before he was appointed to the appellate court in 2003.

Reyes was previously nominated to replace then-SC Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in 2012, SC Justice Roberto Abad in 2014, and SC Justices Martin Villarama Jr. and Arturo Brion in 2016. 

Fifth appointee of Duterte

Reyes is Duterte’s fifth appointee in the high tribunal after retired Justice and now Ombudsman Samuel Martires, and Justices Noel Tijam, Andres Reyes Jr. and Alexander Gesmundo.

The President will also name the successor of Sereno, who was ousted by her colleagues early this year for lack of integrity owing to non-submission of some asset statements.

Reyes wrote the order in August last year executing the decision of a Makati City court that directed the realty firm owned by the Prieto-Rufino clan to vacate the controversial Mile Long property.

He was one of the CA magistrates accused by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV of of receiving P25 million each in bribe to restrain former Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay’s preventive suspension over the controversial Makati City Hall Building 2 project.

In 2016, the CA found Trillanes guilty of indirect contempt of court and slapped him with a fine of P30,000.

The appellate court branded the accusations as malicious, baseless, and unsubstantiated, saying his position as senator is not enough to “exculpate him from liability.” — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News

 

 

 

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