The judiciary mourns the passing today, Aug. 12, of retired Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Jose P. Perez.
The SC, in a statement, did not disclose the cause of Justice Perez’ passing. He mandatorily retired on Dec. 14, 2016 at age 70 after serving the judiciary for 45 years.
Perez was distinctly referred to as the first “homegrown” magistrate of the SC.
After finishing his law degree at the University of the Philippines in 1971, Perez joined the SC as a legal assistant in the Office of the Reporter.
In 1977, he became a confidential attorney in the office of the late Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro and in 1980 as supervising attorney in the Office of the Chief Attorney.
Thereafter, Justice Perez was promoted as deputy clerk of court and chief of the Office of the Reporter in 1987.
He became the assistant court administrator, deputy court administrator, and finally in 2008 as the court administrator whose office supervises all lower courts in the country.
On Dec. 26, 2009, he was appointed SC associate justice.
Justice Perez served 15 chief justices in his 45 years of service at the SC.
He was married to Expedita Sabile Perez, a retired public servant, with whom he has three children – Jerico, Zernan, and Donnabelle.