Marcos names COA's Gamiel Cordoba as Supreme Court associate justice

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Commisson on Audit (COA) chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba as the new Supreme Court associate justice, Malacañang announced Friday.

Cordoba will succeed Supreme Court Amy Lazaro-Javier, who will retire on November 16, 2026.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos has yet to announce the official who will replace Cordoba as COA chairperson.

Castro said the President is designating officials to other goverment agencies because he sees their potential in their new offices.

"Nakikita ng Pangulo sino yung mga taong nararapat na makasama at manatili sa administrasyon. Nakikita niya kung ano yung kanilang mga potensyal. Nakitaan niya ng kagalingan so ilalagay niya sa mga pwesto na mas kakailanganin pa ang kanilang galing," Castro said in a press briefing.

(The President knows who is deserving to join and stay in the administration. He sees their potential. If he see their potential, he will place them in agencies where they show their abilities.)

"Kapag ang isang leader o isang head ng agency ay nailipat sa ibang ahensya, hindi ibig sabihin na siya nawala ng tiwala dahil mas lalong pagpupursigihan nung na-appoint sa bagong posisyon na dapat siya pang ipakita ang kanyang kagalingan," she added.

(When a leader or head of an agency is transferred to another agency, it does not mean that he has lost trust because the person appointed to the new position will be even more determined to show his competence.)

During his time at COA, the agency submitted at least 50 fraud audit reports to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

He also institutionalized GPS-based geotagging of all government infrastructure project nationwide to ensure proper verification of project status.

Cordoba obtained his bachelor of arts in economics in 1992 and juris doctor in 1996 at the Ateneo de Manila University.

He passed the Bar in 1997 and before working in the government in 2001, Cordoba practiced law in a private law firm and has worked as a tax lawyer.

Cordoba also served as external auditor of the International Labour Organization and the World Trade Organization.

He became the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Supreme Audit Institutions for 2024 and 2025.

Cordoba served as commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission under four administrations from 2009-2022.

He approved Starlink's entry in a record 30 minutes to bring satellite internet to far-flung communities, and cracked down on text scams and online child sexual abuse material.

This year, Cordoba received the Gawad Gat Andres Bonifacio Award, the City of Manila's highest honor.

Cordoba appointment is among the latest batch of leadership changes under the Marcos administration. —VAL, GMA News