Marcos confers Order of Lakandula on outgoing Chief Justice Gesmundo

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday conferred the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Cross (Bayani) on outgoing Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

Gesmundo received the award two days before his retirement on Nov. 6. Under the Constitution, Marcos must appoint his successor within 90 days of the vacancy.

READ: Marcos faces crucial choice: 5 shortlisted as next SC chief justice

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The ceremony, held at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace, was also attended by Gesmundo’s family.

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“Ang Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Cross Bayani ay isang Presidential Award na sumasalamin sa mahalagang ambag ng isang indibidwal sa bansa. Partikular na kinikilala ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., ang matapat na paglilingkod ni Chief Justice Gesmundo sa bayan at ang pagpapatuloy ng serbisyo sa hudikatura,” said Palace press officer Claire Castro at a briefing.

(The Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Cross (Bayani) is a Presidential Award that reflects an individual’s significant contribution to the nation. President Marcos Jr. specifically recognizes Chief Justice Gesmundo’s loyal service to the country and his continued service within the judiciary.)

Castro also said Marcos recognized Gesmundo’s contributions to the modernization of the judicial system, including electronic notarization, the modernization of the bar examinations, and efforts to strengthen ethics within the legal profession.

“Nais ipabatid ng Pangulo na ang pamumuno ni Chief Justice Gesmundo ay hindi lamang nasusukat sa kanyang posisyon bilang pinuno ng hudikatura, kundi higit sa lahat sa mga repormang kanyang isinulong at sa positibong pagbabagong iniwan niya sa institusyon,” said Castro.

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(The President wishes to convey that Chief Justice Gesmundo’s leadership is not measured solely by his position as the head of the judiciary, but, more importantly, by the reforms he championed and the positive changes he left behind in the institution.)

Five candidates are being considered to succeed Gesmundo: Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Rodil Zalameda, Japar Dimaampao, and Jose Midas Marquez.

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The next chief justice will inherit a court whose membership largely reflects appointments made during the Duterte administration, making the selection consequential for the judiciary’s direction and its handling of contentious cases involving government officials and institutions.

Castro said all five candidates have their own merits and have demonstrated integrity.

“Hayaan po i-announce naman po kung sino po iyong susunod na Chief Justice, this week, hindi na natin pangungunahan ang ating pangulo,” she said.

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(Let us wait for the announcement of who the next Chief Justice will be—which is expected this week—so as not to preempt the president.)