Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 23)— Recently retired Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Antonio Kho has been named as the newest Supreme Court (SC) associate justice.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Kho’s appointment papers on Wednesday, Malacañang confirmed.
Kho will take the post vacated by Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang, who retired in January. He beat several other applicants, including former Commission on Audit chairperson Michael Aguinaldo.
Kho left the poll body earlier this month along with fellow retirees Rowena Guanzon and Sheriff Abas. He was part of Comelec’s Second Division, which had junked the pleas challenging the presidential bid of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
Petitioners have appealed the cases’ dismissal.
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Prior to his stint at Comelec, Kho — a fraternity brother of Duterte — also served as Undersecretary of the Department of Justice. He headed the task force that investigated the controversial pork barrel scam.
CNN Philippines’ Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
SC Public Information Office chief Brian Hosaka said the high court received Kho’s documents in the afternoon.
