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President Benigno Aquino III has just appointed Ma. Lourdes Sereno as the new chief justice of Supreme Court.
Sereno is the 24th head magistrate of the Supreme Court, as the replacement of recently-impeached former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Sereno is the first appointee of President Aquino in the Supreme Court. The 52 year old Sereno, is the first female head magistrate in the Supreme Court.
According to a report, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda apparently said that the president believes Sereno will lead the needed reforms in the magistrate office. Lacierda also added that it is an opportunity for the authority to restore the trust of the Filipino people in the justice system.
“In the midst of this period of deep mourning for the loss of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, the President is cognizant of his constitutional duty to appoint the next Chief Justice of the Philippines. He has therefore decided to appoint Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Punzalan Aranal-Sereno as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The President is confident that Chief Justice Sereno will lead the judiciary in undertaking much-needed reforms. We believe the Judicial Branch of government has a historic opportunity to restore our people’s confidence in the judicial system,” said Lacierda.
Sereno is born on July 2, 1960 and a native from Bay, Laguna. She got a bachelor’s degree in economics at the Ateneo de Manila University, and her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law, graduating as class valedictorian. She also earned a Master of Laws from the University of Michigan Law School. At the time of her appointment, Sereno was Executive Director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center.
Meanwhile, reports say that Sereno’s close relationship with the president became controversial when she reportedly insists that the Hacienda Luisita will be paid based on the 1989 valuation.
Apparently, if Sereno’s position will be complied, the just compensation that the Aquino-Cojuangco will receive might reach P10 billion.
