By Erma Edera
The Manila City Council on Thursday passed a resolution endorsing the appointment of former Third District Councilor and now Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez for the vacant position of Supreme Court Associate Justice.
“It is with distinct honor and esteem pride of the City Council of Manila to endorse and support the application of Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez to the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court for his outstanding track record as a legislator and excellent performance as member of the bar and bench,” read the resolution.
“Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the City Council of Manila to endorse and highly recommend the appointment of Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez of the Court of Appeals to the vacant position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court," it added.
Lopez served as Councilor for Manila’s third district from 1992 to 1998, and from 2001 to 2006, before he was appointed as Chief City Prosecutor of Manila in February 2006.
Lopez graduated cum laude at the University of the Philippines Diliman with a Political Science degree, while he obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree at the same university in 1984. He passed the bar examination with a rating of 84.55%.
Before running for City Council, Lopez worked under the helm of former Senate President Jovito Salonga. Later on, he was appointed as the chief legal counsel at the Senate of the Philippines.
After serving as City Prosecutor of Manila, Lopez was appointed as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals in 2012.