Duterte names ex-Comelec commissioner Kho to Supreme Court

Retired Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho has been appointed as an associate justice of the Supreme Court, tribunal spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka confirmed Wednesday.

Kho, along with Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, retired on February 2.

"I confirm that the Supreme Court through the Office of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo received this afternoon the appointment papers of former Comelec Commissioner Antonio Kho, Jr. as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines," Hosaka said in a message to reporters.

In a separate statement, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said President Rodrigo Duterte signed Kho's appointment papers on Wednesday. 

“We wish Associate Justice Kho success in the Supreme Court, and we are confident that he will continue to dispense justice to every man, woman, and child with integrity, impartiality, and fairness,” Nograles said.

Kho was appointed to replace former Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang who retired in January after 27 years of service in the judiciary.

He was Duterte's fraternity brother at the San Beda College of Law-based Lex Talionis Fraternitas. 

Prior to his stint at Comelec, Kho was an undersecretary at the Department of Justice. —NB/VBL, GMA News