Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially administered the oath of office to Rodil Zalameda as the 28th Supreme Court chief justice at Malacañan Palace on Monday morning, Nov. 9, following the mandatory retirement of Alexander Gesmundo.
An initial oath-taking ceremony was held before Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and members of the judiciary on Friday, Nov. 6, following the announcement of Zalameda’s appointment.
“Malawak po ‘yung experience ni Justice Zalameda pagdating sa hudikatura,” acting Communications Secretary Lino Cayetano said in a press briefing.
[Translation: “Justice Zalameda’s experience in the judiciary is extensive.”]
Zalameda began his legal career as a regional trial court clerk after passing the Bar examinations in 1988. He then entered private practice before returning to government service as a prosecutor, eventually becoming the city prosecutor of Mandaluyong in 2002.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte appointed him to the high court in 2019. He served for seven years as an associate justice before applying for the top magistrate post and facing the Judicial and Bar Council on Oct. 26.
“This wide, broad experience makes him extremely qualified for the job,” Cayetano added when asked about the factors Marcos considered in his decision to promote Zalameda.
The appointment is in accordance with Section 9, Article VIII of the Constitution, which vests in the president the sole authority to appoint members of the Supreme Court and lower courts.
Zalameda will serve until August 2033, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Among the landmark rulings he has penned is the reversal of a 2018 Sandiganbayan decision, which effectively acquitted former first lady Imelda Marcos of seven counts of graft.
