Some quarters immediately grumbled over President Rodrigo Duterte’s breach of a promise to base his choice of chief justice on seniority in the high court. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio had been expected by many supporters to be formally appointed to the position because of his seniority in the Supreme Court. There are many competent people in the Supreme Court but I’m happy because I think Justice Bersamin will become effective [as chief of the judiciary],” Sen. Grace Poe said in a chance interview. “Chief Justice Bersamin is a brilliant legal mind with a dynamic style, an incisive wit and enlightening opinion. He also served over six years as associate justice at the Court of Appeals, and close to 10 years as the 163rd magistrate of the Supreme Court.

Source: Manila Times November 28, 2018 16:18 UTC