Rodil Zalameda takes oath as 28th Supreme Court Chief Justice

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Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda took his oath on Friday as the new Supreme Court Chief Justice, succeeding outgoing Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who retired on the same day.

Assuming his post as the 28th Chief Justice of the Philippines, Zalameda took his oath alongside his family before Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

Meanwhile, the ceremonial turnover of the gavel was administered by Gesmundo, according to a report by Super Radyo dzBB reporter Christian Maño.

Leonen was one of his four rivals for the position, who also included Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, and Associate Justice Jose Midas Marquez.

Malacañang announced Zalameda’s appointment on Thursday, citing his extensive judicial experience across several administrations. Palace said it remains confident in the Judiciary’s impartiality.

It can be recalled that Zalameda penned the SC decision that overturned the graft conviction of former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

He also authored the decision granting a writ of amparo in favor of former Bayan Muna lawmaker Siegfred Deduro, which recognized that red-tagging and guilt by association threaten a person’s right to life, liberty, or security.

Prior to this, Zalameda was appointed as an SC associate justice by then-President Rodrigo Duterte on August 6, 2019.

He also served as an associate justice of the Court of Appeals for 11 years and as the chairperson of its 17th Division.

Zalameda previously served as a branch clerk for the Makati Regional Trial Court.

The new SC chief justice obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree at Ateneo de Manila University in 1987 under an academic scholarship grant. He passed the Bar examinations in 1988. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/LDF, GMA News