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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider SC Justice Delos Santos retires June 30

SC Justice Delos Santos retires June 30

Published Jun 29, 2021 09:27 am

Associate Justice Edgardo L. Delos Santos

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Edgardo L. Delos Santos is set to retire on Wednesday, June 30, a year earlier than his mandatory retirement at age 70 on June 12, 2022.

The SC, as a full court, had approved Delos Santos’ early retirement “for reasons pertaining to his current state of health.” His “state of health” was not disclosed.

With the retirement of Delos Santos, who was appointed by President Duterte in Dec. 2019, there are now two vacancies in the 15-member SC.

The first vacancy was a result of the promotion of then Associate Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo as Chief Justice last April 5.

Last June 18, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) sent to the President its nominees to the post left by Gesmundo.

The nominees are, in alphabetical order: Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotage Tang, former Ateneo de Manila University law dean Sedfrey M. Candelaria, Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justices Ramon A. Cruz and Japar B. Dimaampao, Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Geraldine Faith A. Econg and Rafael R. Lagos, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, CA Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, and Deputy Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva.

As of Tuesday morning, June 29, the President has not announced his appointee from among the nine nominees. Under the Constitution, the President has 90 days from the date of vacancy to fill up a vacant post in the judiciary.

The JBC -- the constitutional office that accepts, screens and nominates appointments to the judiciary – has opened the applications or recommendations to Delos Santos’ post. The deadline was set on July 16.

Delos Santos was the second justice who opted for early retirement in the past year. Then Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta retired last March 27 or a year ahead of his mandatory retirement on March 27, 2022.

Late last year, the SC approved the disability retirement of Associate Justice Priscilla J. Baltazar Padilla.

Delos Santos started his judicial career in 1983 when he was appointed municipal trial court (MTC) judge in Siaton, Negros Oriental. In 1987, he was appointed judge of the municipal trial court in cities (MTCC) for Dumaguete City.

In 1993, he was promoted as judge of the regional trial court (RTC) in Bacolod City. Thereafter, he was appointed associate justice of the Court of Appeals in 2008 and served as executive justice of the appellate court in the Visayas.

The published biography of Justice Delos Santos in the SC website states:

“During his entire stint in the Judiciary, he had been recognized with the following distinctions: 2016 Ulirang Ama Sectoral Award for Law and Judiciary, 2009 Outstanding Palomponganon Award, 2008 Outstanding Law Alumnus of the University of San Carlos, Supreme Court En Banc Congratulatory Resolution (Re: Gender Justice Awards ), Novel Decision Award (Gender Justice Awards), Special Award on Women’s Advocacy (Soroptimists Awards) and Community Relations Award (NARCOM). Moreover, he had also been a nominee of the following awards: 2007 Awards for Judicial Excellence and2006 Awards for Judicial Excellence.

“Apart from his judicial duties, Justice Delos Santos also served as law professor in University of St. La Salle – Bacolod City from 1993 to 1999 and in Negros Oriental State University – Dumaguete City from 2008 – 2011 where he taught Remedial Law subjects and Legal Ethics. He is also serving as a member of the Board of Trustees of Casa Cittadini Foundation, Inc.—home for neglected girls and a non-profit institution run by the Ursuline Sisters of Somasca.”

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