Opposition solon calls Bersamin appointment a reward from Duterte

The appointment of new Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin is an incentive for backing the decisions made by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Hindi ako naniniwala na na-appoint ang bagong Chief Justice dahil sa seniority... Bayad-utang ito. Nakita naman natin na lahat ng kagustuhan ni President Duterte ay pumapanig siya," Alejano said in a press conference in Quezon City on Wednesday.

"Dahil sa kanyang record, we will continue to be vigilant," Alejano added.

Duterte appointed Bersamin as the new top magistrate, replacing Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, who retired in October after serving as chief justice for only 41 days.

Duterte noted that seniority was a factor in his decision to pick the new chief justice.

Bersamin will serve as chief justice for less than a year or until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70 on October 18, 2019.

Bersamin, an appointee of former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, voted in favor of the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and the petition that sought to expel Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice over an alleged failure to file some mandatory asset declarations.

He also supported the continued detention of opposition Senator Leila De Lima over drug-relared charges and Duterte’s martial law declaration in Mindanao and its year-long extension.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said he was surprised that Bersamin was appointed Chief Justice.

"Admittedly I was surprised but he is good," Suarez said. —with Erwin Colcol/NB, GMA News