Palace laments passing of SC Justice Melencio-Herrera
Malacañang is saddened by the passing of retired Supreme Court Justice Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera at the age of 98.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque wrote in a statement Monday evening.
"As tributes pour to honor the life and legacy of Justice Herrera, we pray that the Almighty grant her eternal repose. Farewell and rest in peace, Madame Justice," he added.
In his statement, Roque described the Supreme Court retired justice as the embodiment of judicial excellence.
"Justice Herrera was the embodiment of judicial excellence... I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be part of PhilJA upon the invitation of Justice and Chancellor Herrera," he said.
News of Melencio-Herrera's passing was first broken in social media by former Supreme Court spokesman lawyer Theodore Te.
"RIP Justice (ret) Ameurfina Melencio Herrera (+), Chairperson Emeritus of the PHILJA. I remember her dissent in Pp v. Caruncho as an eye-opener into how erstwhile majorities become dissents," he wrote in his tweet.
"I also remember her courageous handling of the aftermath of the '81 bar exam scandal," he added.
Melencio-Herrera topped the 1947 Philippine Bar Examinations with a 93.85-percent bar rating.
She was appointed as the second woman Supreme Court justice and became the Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJa) – the training school for justices, judges, court personnel, among others.
She retired in 1992.