Misplaced Pages

Teresita de Castro: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 16:10, 30 October 2007 editDavid the Aspie (talk | contribs)4,197 editsm Minor Edit← Previous edit Latest revision as of 06:11, 9 October 2024 edit undoSuggestionsfromthestands (talk | contribs)402 editsNo edit summary 
(365 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Filipino judge (born 1948)}}
'''Teresita Leonardo de Castro''' (born ], ]) is an incumbent Presiding Justice of the ] of the ]. She was appointed to the Court by ] ] on ], ].
{{Philippine name|Jose|Leonardo|de Castro|ph=married}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = ]
| honorific_suffix =
| name = Teresita de Castro
| image = File:CJ-Decastro-2018.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| order = 24th
| office = Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
| appointer = ]
| predecessor = ] {{small|(''De facto'')}} <br> ] {{small|(''De jure'')}}
| successor = ]
| office1 = 160th ]
| appointer1 = ]
| predecessor1 = ]
| successor1 = ]
| office2 = 4th ]
| appointer2 = ]
| predecessor2 = Romulo Quimbo
| successor2 = Ediberto Sandoval (acting)
| birth_name = Teresita Jose Leonardo
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|10|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = ], Philippines
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = Eduardo de Castro
| children = 3
| affiliation =
| religion =
| signature =
| footnotes =
| alma_mater = ] (], ])
| termstart = August 28, 2018
| termend = October 10, 2018
| termstart1 = December 3, 2007
| termend1 = August 28, 2018
| termend2 = December 3, 2007
| termstart2 = September 8, 1997
}}


'''Teresita Leonardo de Castro''' (born '''Teresita Jose Leonardo'''; October 10, 1948)<ref>''''</ref><ref>Lian Buan, '''', Rappler.com (October 8, 2018)</ref> is a Filipina who served as the 24th ]; she was appointed by President ] on August 28, 2018. She assumed the vacated position once her predecessor, ], was removed via a ] (by declaring Sereno a ''de facto'' chief justice and making her 2012 appointment null and void ''ab initio''); making De Castro the ''de jure'' 24th chief justice, and the first female chief justice of the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news|title=Teresita Leonardo de Castro is new Chief Justice|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/08/25/Chief-Justice-Teresita-Leonardo-de-Castro.html|work=CNN Philippines|date=August 25, 2018|access-date=August 25, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825072247/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/08/25/Chief-Justice-Teresita-Leonardo-de-Castro.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Profile==
De Castro's parents are Fortunato R. Leonardo and Maxima J. Leonardo, of ]. Justice Teresita Jose Leonardo De Castro resides at Fort-Max Resort, Leonardo Compound, Merville, ], ]. De Castro is married to businessman Eduardo A. de Castro. Their daughter Christine Genevive, 28, works as Executive assistant, ] and her half-brother, Eduardo L. Leonardo works as Executive assistant VI, Sandiganbayan).<ref></ref>Her other children are Maria Cherell L. de Castro, 30, and Edouard Anthony L. de Castro, 26.


De Castro officially retired on October 10, 2018, after reaching the ]; merely 46 days after serving as Chief Justice, surpassing the record of former Chief Justice ] of being the shortest-tenured Chief Justice.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/25/18/de-castro-is-new-chief-justice-guevarra#|title=Teresita Leonardo-De Castro is new Supreme Court chief|work=ABS-CBN News|access-date=2018-08-25|language=en-US}}</ref>
De Castro finished elementary (1960) and high school education (Valedictorian, 1964) at St. Paul College. De Castro earned her AB Political Science (cum laude, 1968) and Bachelor of Laws (1972) at the University of the Philippines (1979). She passed the ] of November, 1972 with bar rating of 80.9%.<ref></ref>


Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court by President ],<ref>{{cite web
She started her judicial career as a law clerk, legal and judicial assistant in the Supreme Court of the Philippines,(1973-1978). She was appointed DOJ State Counsel I, II (1978-1985), and promoted to senior state counsel (1985-1987), supervising state counsel, and chief of legal staff (1988-1989). Before her Sandiganbayan appointment, De Castro was the state counsel V and chief of legal staff, DOJ (1989-1995).<ref></ref>
| title = De Castro Appointed SC Associate Justice
De Castro is the incumbent Presiding Justice and Chairman, First Division, Sandiganbayan.<ref></ref>
| publisher = ABS-CBN News
| date = 2007-12-03
| url = http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=101213
| access-date = 2007-12-03}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> she had been the Presiding Justice of the ].<ref></ref>


==Profile==
On August 17, 2007, Leonardo-de Castro warned grafters and corrupt public officials on the imposition of a stiff jail term if they are found guilty. Her stern warning was delivered before members of the Multi-Sectoral Anti-Corruption Council (MSACC) during the “NACPA Roadshow Rally for Integrity” held at the ] Bahay ng Alumni at the UP Campus in Quezon City. De Castro signed the Covenant on March 17, 2006 to support the National Anti-Corruption Program of Action (NACPA) as representative of the judiciary and the Sandiganbayan. De Castro reported that as of June 30, 2007, there have been 31,595 cases filed with the Sandiganbayan of which 29,213 have been disposed of, leaving a pending workload of 2,382 cases or an average of less than 500 cases per division.<ref></ref>
De Castro's parents are Fortunato R. Leonardo and Maxima Jose of ]. De Castro resides at Merville Subdivision, ]. She is married to businessman Eduardo A. De Castro and they have three children: Maria Cherell, Christine Genevive, and Edouard Anthony. Her half-brother, Eduardo L. Leonardo works as executive assistant VI in Sandiganbayan.<ref></ref>


De Castro finished her grade school (1960) and high school education (valedictorian, 1964) at St. Paul College of Parañaque, and earned her political science degree (cum laude, 1968) and Bachelor of Laws (1972) at the University of the Philippines. She passed the ] of November, 1972 with bar rating of 80.9%.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016171159/http://www.gmanews.tv/erapplundertrial/decastro |date=2007-10-16 }}</ref>
==Erap Plunder Trial==
De Castro heads the anti-graft court’s special division on the Erap plunder case. The Sandiganbayan, has 90 days or until mid-September 2007 to decide the case of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, but the decision could be issued much sooner than that. Leonardo-de Castro was candidate for the vacant post of Supreme Court Associate Justice, duly nominated by the JBC for the vacancy due to retirement of ] and will be a very strong candidate for the vacancy due to the forthcoming retirement of ] on October 20, 2007<ref></ref>


She started her judicial career as a law clerk, legal and judicial assistant in the Supreme Court of the Philippines,(1973–1978). She was appointed DOJ State Counsel I and II (1978–1985), and promoted to senior state counsel (1985–1987), supervising state counsel, and chief of the Legal Staff (1988–1989). Before her Sandiganbayan appointment, De Castro was State Counsel V and Legal Staff head at the DOJ (1989–1995).<ref></ref>
On September 5, 2007, Leonardo-de Castro, and ] Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta and Francisco Villaruz were assigned 2 extra ] 3 weeks ago per initiative of the Sheriff (after getting threatening messages from an anonymous person). Renato Bocar, executive clerk of court confirmed the “''new face''" in De Castro’s office who has been “''acting like a bodyguard''."<ref></ref>
De Castro was the Presiding Justice and Chair of the First Division, Sandiganbayan at the time of her appointment to the High Court.<ref></ref>


She held the position of President-elect of the ] (IAWJ) from 2012 to 2014.<ref></ref> She is also the Chairwoman of the 2015 ] committee.<ref></ref>
On September 7, 2007, the ]'s Teresita De Castro announced that the graft ] will ] the ] on ], 2007 in the 6-year-old ] ] (October 2001 to June 15, 2007) of ousted President ]. The verdict will also inclued his son, Sen. ]; and ] Eduardo Serapio. Court Sheriff Ed Urieta said tight security will include 4,000 ] and 2,000 ], and ]. Estrada is accused of ] 4 billion pesos (US$81 million; €62 million) in ] ] and falsely declaring his assets.<ref></ref> On September 11, 2007, the ] allowed live ] (]) coverage of the ]'s ]'s ] of ] on September 12, 2007 (granting the petition of the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas). The court, however, directed ] to hook up with a ] of the personnel of the Supreme Court public information office.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>


On August 25, 2018, President Duterte announced his appointment of De Castro as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, replacing ] who was removed from office by way of an 8–6 decision by the Supreme Court over a quo warranto petition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/25/18/de-castro-is-new-chief-justice-guevarra|title= De Castro is the new Chief Justice-Guevarra|publisher=ABS-CBN News Online|date= 25 August 2018}}</ref> She formally assumed the office on August 28.<ref>{{cite news|title=De Castro is new Chief Justice until October|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/08/25/Chief-Justice-Teresita-Leonardo-de-Castro.html|work=CNN Philippines|date=August 25, 2018|access-date=August 25, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825072247/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/08/25/Chief-Justice-Teresita-Leonardo-de-Castro.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On ], ], as ] ] figure, Estrada released a ] to the poor ]: "''I have been ] for 6 years, 4 months and 17 days but because of your ], help and ], I have endured all these ... Whatever the ] (] ]) will decide, I am ready because I know my countrymen have ] me''.<ref></ref>


==The Decision== ==The trial of Joseph Estrada==
{{main|Trial of Joseph Estrada}}
{{Current-related|date=October 2007|article|Erap Plunder Case}}
On ], ], ] was acquitted of ] but found ] of ] and sentenced to ] with the accessory ] of ] disqualification from ] and ] of ill-gotten ].<ref></ref>


De Castro headed the anti-graft court's special division on the perjury and plunder trial of former President ]. Estrada's son, Senator ] also faced charges. The trial finished in September 2007. Estrada was acquitted of perjury charges but found guilty of plunder and sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref></ref> All the co-defendants, including Senator Jinggoy Estrada, were acquitted of all charges.
On ], ], ]'s Presiding ] Teresita De Castro and 2 other ] Diosdado M. Peralta and Francisco H. Villaruz Jr. unanimously ] his son, Senator ], and a ] Edward Serapio of ] charges. The ] of the 262-page ] declared the ] in favor of the ]: P542.701 million (] ] including ]), P189 million (Jose Velarde accounts including interest) and the ] ] in New Manila, ].<ref></ref><ref></ref>


Estrada appealed the decision<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207190457/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/asiapacific/news/article_1359793.php/Philippines_ex-president_Estrada_appeals_conviction_for_plunder |date=2012-02-07 }}</ref> and called the court (and De Castro, as head of it) "a kangaroo court", while President ] said the court's decision must be accepted.<ref></ref>
Only the ] or dispositive part of 2 ] were read (resulting to only 15 minutes ] ]).<ref></ref>During the reading of the judgment, ] said Joseph Estrada cried; his ], ], Jackie Ejercito Lopez, ] ] Joseph Victor "''JV''" Ejercito, (Estrada's son with Guia Gomez), other family members and ] (including, Laarni Enriquez) all ] during the ] by the ].<ref></ref>


De Castro was appointed to the Supreme Court soon after the end of the highly politicized trial. This led to some accusations of '']''. People claimed that she had convicted former President Estrada in exchange for a seat on the Supreme Court.<ref></ref> She vigorously denied those rumors, claiming that she had been a candidate for a seat on the high court before her involvement in the case.
Estrada's lawyer Estelito Mendoza stated that Estrada will file a ] for reconsideration (before ]) of the 262-page ] and then ] the ] to the High Tribunal. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it will support a ] for Estrada. ] said ''The people will receive this with moral outrage and disgust. The time of reckoning will come. That time may not be too far now.'' ``This verdict is intended to legitimize the occupancy of an illegal tenant in Malacanang''<ref></ref><ref></ref>


==Appointment to the Supreme Court==
Estrada, in ] ] (] ] ] ] and ] ]) with his ] ] stated that "''I thought the role of justice would prevail here but really it's a kangaroo court''." President ] stated that the court's ] must be accepted: "''We hope and pray that the rule of law will prevail''." Estrada's ] Rene A.V. Saguisag issued the statement:"''VICTORS' JUSTICE" - "It's victors' justice. It's ruling class justice. The special division (of the court) was programmed to convict. We never had a chance''." Estrada will ] the ] and would be under ] ] at the ].<ref></ref>
] of Teresita Leonardo-De Castro (new ] building)]]
On October 16, 2007, the ] (JBC) announced the final nominees to the Associate Justice ]'s vacant seat. Teresita De Castro, Justices Edgardo Cruz and ], got seven out of eight votes, while Associate Justices Francisco Villaruz and Edilberto G. Sandoval and Labor Secretary ] got five votes each (from the JBC). Under Philippine law, the president has 90 days to choose from among the final nominees.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222020451/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=94732 |date=2008-02-22 }}</ref>


Senator ] (son of Joseph), vowed to block the appointment to the Supreme Court of Sandiganbayan Justices Teresita de Castro and Francisco Villaruz, Jr. (who convicted his father – President ]). Jinggoy argued that: "''Such a promotion would seem like a reward in exchange for the guilty verdict against the deposed President. We are convinced, then and now, that the special court created to exclusively try the case of President Estrada was established precisely to convict him, which is what exactly happened''."<ref></ref>
Estrada told ] that he was resigned for the latest ] in his ]: "''last and best performance of my life''." The ]'s lead counsel Dennis Villa-Ignacio proudly asserted: "''It shows that our judicial system really works.This is the last chance for the state to show that we can do it, that we can charge, prosecute and convict a public official regardless of his stature''."<ref></ref>


De Castro was sworn by Chief Justice ] on December 4, 2007.<ref></ref> Teresita de Castro stated: "Everything happens in God's time. I believe that my 34 years of service in the judiciary and a good track record make me qualified for this position." Immediately after being sworn in, she participated in her first en banc session.<ref></ref>
Joseph Estrada rose from obscurirty to having been top ] ] star, then hit the mark, by claiming the ] until ] sent him to ]. He stated to ] "''I feel depressed, but it's my style not to show it''." Before the release of the fatalistic ], he warned that he prevent his fans from making street ].<ref></ref>


De Castro became controversial when she was the Sandiganbayan's Presiding Justice after her division convicted former President ] for graft. Many believed that her decision was related to her subsequent appointment by former President ] as the 160th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 2007 in exchange of her favorable decision.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}
Estrada returned to his ] in ], ] (driven on from a ]), to the ])<ref></ref> The court permitted him to return to his ], "''until further orders''".<ref></ref>


===Reactions to her appointment to the Supreme Court===
Meanwhile, the ] ] stated that the arrival of the ] and ], ] ] was a ''goodwill visit'' to strengthen the ties between the ] and the ].<ref></ref>
* ] called the appointment of Teresita de Castro as a "reward for an unjust conviction ".<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511174553/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2007/12/05/news/de.castro.s.appointment.to.sc.a.political.reward.erap.html |date=2008-05-11 }}</ref>
* Sen. ] questioned de Castro's appointment in light of her impending retirement on October 8, saying it "does not help in the strengthening of the rule of law."<ref></ref>
* Former ] ] and opposition lawmaker Gary Alejano said that de Castro's appointment may be considered as the President's way of paying his debt of gratitude to the second most senior magistrate of the high court.<ref></ref>
* Minority Leader ] said: "That is the President's call and I do not question it. Of course, other persons may have personal reasons for objecting to the appointment of Justice De Castro. But you cannot please everyone."<ref></ref>
* On December 4, 2007, Senate President ] and Senate President Pro-Tempore ] (the son of Joseph) questioned the timing of de Castro's appointment. Villar stated that: "The appointment coming so soon after de Castro's Division had convicted former President Joseph Estrada is bad timing. It gives the impression that it was her reward for convicting Erap ." Jinggoy Estrada said: "A few months after the conviction of President Estrada, she was immediately appointed to the Supreme Court. I think there was a deal between Malacañang and Sandiganbayan that if she convicts Estrada, she would be appointed to the Supreme Court. That gave political color to the decision of Sandiganbayan. I think she is qualified to be an associate justice. It's just that the timing is wrong. If I were Justice de Castro, I would have refused the appointment out of delicadeza . It did not look good in the eyes of the public."
* Sen. ] stated that "de Castro is highly qualified for the High Tribunal and that her appointment could not be interpreted as "reward" for her decision on the Erap plunder case. Malacañang had ignored the Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict and granted absolute pardon to the former president."<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205054823/http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/dec/05/yehey/top_stories/20071205top2.html |date=2007-12-05 }}</ref>
* Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita defended the appointment of Teresita de Castro noting that she was nominated several times to the post but because she was still handling the Estrada case she was bypassed twice. He added that de Castro deserved the appointment.<ref></ref>


=== Appeal === ===Testimony against Sereno===
De Castro was one of five sitting justices who sought to nullify the appointment of ] as the country's top magistrate. De Castro and Sereno were both shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council in 2012 for the Chief Justiceship but then-President ] appointed the latter to the post. Along with four other members, she was accused of exhausting legal remedies to oust the incumbent Chief Justice.
On ], 2007, ] ] by filing a 63-page ] for reconsideration of the ] ] penned by Teresita de Castro (submitting 5 ] grounds).<ref></ref> <ref></ref>Estrada alleged that the court erred "''when it convicted him by acquitting his alleged co-conspirators''."<ref></ref>


==Chief Justice==
On ], ], the ]'s Special Division ruled to have set for ], ] (instead of a defense reply) on Joseph Estrada’s motion for reconsideration. Estrada asked court permission to attend the hearing, since it ordered the prosecution to file comment before October 11.<ref></ref>
On August 25, 2018, De Castro was appointed by President ] as the ], following the ouster of ] via '']''. She served 46 days until her mandatory retirement on her 70th birthday on 10 October. De Castro's appointment was criticized due to her expected short term of two months since she is obligated to retire on October 8, 2018, as well as her role as one of the five sitting justices who sought to nullify the appointment of Sereno as Chief Justice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/210284-teresita-de-castro-supreme-court-chief-justice|title=Teresita de Castro is new Supreme Court Chief Justice|date=25 August 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Teresita Leonardo de Castro is new Chief Justice|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/08/25/Chief-Justice-Teresita-Leonardo-de-Castro.html|work=CNN Philippines|date=August 25, 2018|access-date=August 25, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825072247/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/08/25/Chief-Justice-Teresita-Leonardo-de-Castro.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Education and Qualifications==
=== Aftermath ===
On September 14, 2007, Chief presidential ] Sergio Antonio Apostol officially stated that ] ] Teresita Leonardo de Castro, Diosdado Peralta and Francisco Villaruz Jr. should decline ] ] and await other vacancies to ease pressure on President ]: “''Para Hindi na maipit ang Presidente (In order to spare the President from pressure), they should withdraw their nomination. Parang iyong nangyari kay Justice (Gregory) Ong (Remember what happened in Justice ]’s case) ...It’s a sacrifice on her part..Hindi niya maiwanan (ang posisyon) (She cannot leave the Sandiganbayan) because of the case of ] - Erap (Estrada’s nickname)''." <ref></ref> In the ] of the ], De Castro, Villaruz and Peralta are now at the receiving end of 2 unsolicited advices from key officials. ] Majority Leader ], ] ], ] stated that the 3 ] ] "''should have the delicadeza not to accept a promotion to the highest tribunal to dispel any suspicion that they pronounced Mr. Estrada guilty expecting a reward from Palace ... We do not want to see a cloud of suspicion over the appointees to the Supreme Court. They should always be above suspicio''n.”<ref></ref>


===University and Law School===
On ], ], the ] (JBC) announced the final nominees to the October 20 Associate Justice ] vacant ] Associate Justice post. Teresita De Castro, Justices Edgardo Cruz and Martin Villarama, got 7 out of 8 votes, while Associate Justices Francisco Villaruz and Edilberto G. Sandoval and Labor Secretary ] got 5 votes each (from the JBC). The President has 90 days to choose from the above final list.<ref></ref>
* AB Political Science: ] (cum laude, 1968)
* Bachelor of Laws: ] (1972)


===Training Courses===
* Seminar on Loan Negotiation and Renegotiation (August 9 to September 5, 1986), International Law Institute, Washington D.C.
* Program of Instruction for Lawyers (June 11–21, 2004), ], Cambridge, Massachusetts
* Seminar Judging Across Borders: Canadian Judges and International Law, (April 6–9, 2005), National Judicial Institute, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada


===Other honors and qualifications===
'''TRAINING COURSES'''
* ] International Honor Society;
Seminar on Loan Negotiation and Renegotiation (August 9 to September 5, 1986), International Law Institute, Washington D.C.
* ] International Honor Society in the Social Sciences;
* Vice Chancellor and consistent Member, Order of the Purple Feather, UP College of Law Honor Society;
Program of Instruction for Lawyers (June 11-21, 2004), Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
* Executive Vice-President, Philippine Women Judges Association;
* UP Sigma Alpha Sorority;
* UP College of Law, Portia Sorority and UP Women Lawyers Circle (WILOCI);
* University and College Scholar at UP Diliman.


== Some notable opinions ==
Seminar Judging Across Borders: Canadian Judges and International Law, (April 6-9, 2005), National Judicial Institute, Victori, British Columbia, Canada
* – ''on the principle of executive privilege over Congress' right to information''
* – ''on the conviction of former Philippine President ] for the crime of ] punishable by life imprisonment ]''


==See also==
'''OTHER QUALIFICATIONS'''
* ]
Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society;
* ]
* ]


==References==
Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in the Social Sciences;
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
Vice Chancellor and consistent Member, Order of the Purple Feather, UP College of Law Honor Society;
*


<!-- Succession table -->
Executive Vice-President, Philippine Women Judges Association;
{{S-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before=] <br> {{small|''] - ]''}}}}
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=] <br>{{small|'']''}}|years=2018}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=]}}
{{s-bef|before=] <br>{{small|''] - appointment null and void ]''}}}}
|-
{{s-bef | before=]}}
{{s-ttl | title=]|years=2007–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=]}}
|-
{{s-bef | before=]}}
{{s-ttl | title=]|years=1998–2004}}
{{s-aft|after=]}}
|-
{{s-bef | before=]<br>{{small|(''acting'')}}}}
{{s-ttl | title=]|years=2004–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=]<br>{{small|(''acting'')}}}}
{{S-end}}


{{Philippine Supreme Court composition
UP Sigma Alpha Sorority;
|CJ=de Castro
|years=2018
|court1=2018 August 28
}}
{{Philippine Supreme Court composition
|CJ=]
|years=2012–2018
|court1=2017 August 14
|court2=2017 July 12
|court3=2017 July 7
|court4=2017 March 8
|court5=2017 January
|court6=2016 December 29
|court7=2016 December 14
|court8=2016 January
|court9=2014 August
|court10=2014 May
|court11=2012 November
|court12=2012 August
}}
{{Philippine Supreme Court composition|CJ=]|years=2010–2012
| court1 = 2011 September
| court2 = 2010 May
}}
{{Philippine Supreme Court composition| CJ=]|years=2007–2010
| court1 = 2010 January
}}
{{Philippine Supreme Court composition| CJ=]|years=2005–2007
| court1 = 2007 December 3
}}
{{Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court}}


{{Authority control}}
UP College of Law, Portia Sorority and UP Women Lawyers Circle (WILOCI);

Awarded University and College Scholarships at UP Diliman, Q.C.

==References==
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>

==See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==External links==
*
* &ndash; Justice category
* &ndash; Official website
* &ndash; Information on the Sandiganbayan
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*http://www.gmanews.tv/video/11589/Sandigan-finds-Erap-guilty-of-plunder GMA Video, Sandigan finds Erap guilty of plunder]
*
*


{{DEFAULTSORT:De Castro, Teresita}} {{DEFAULTSORT:De Castro, Teresita}}
] ]
] ]
]
]
] ]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 06:11, 9 October 2024

Filipino judge (born 1948) In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Jose, the birth surname or paternal family name is Leonardo, and the marital name is de Castro.
The HonorableTeresita de Castro
24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
In office
August 28, 2018 – October 10, 2018
Appointed byRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byMaria Lourdes Sereno (De facto)
Renato Corona (De jure)
Succeeded byLucas Bersamin
160th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
In office
December 3, 2007 – August 28, 2018
Appointed byGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byCancio Garcia
Succeeded byRosmari Carandang
4th Presiding Justice of the Sandiganbayan
In office
September 8, 1997 – December 3, 2007
Appointed byFidel V. Ramos
Preceded byRomulo Quimbo
Succeeded byEdiberto Sandoval (acting)
Personal details
BornTeresita Jose Leonardo
(1948-10-10) October 10, 1948 (age 76)
Manila, Philippines
SpouseEduardo de Castro
Children3
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines (AB, LLB)

Teresita Leonardo de Castro (born Teresita Jose Leonardo; October 10, 1948) is a Filipina who served as the 24th chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; she was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 28, 2018. She assumed the vacated position once her predecessor, Maria Lourdes Sereno, was removed via a quo warranto petition (by declaring Sereno a de facto chief justice and making her 2012 appointment null and void ab initio); making De Castro the de jure 24th chief justice, and the first female chief justice of the Supreme Court.

De Castro officially retired on October 10, 2018, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70; merely 46 days after serving as Chief Justice, surpassing the record of former Chief Justice Pedro Yap of being the shortest-tenured Chief Justice.

Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, she had been the Presiding Justice of the Sandiganbayan.

Profile

De Castro's parents are Fortunato R. Leonardo and Maxima Jose of Parañaque. De Castro resides at Merville Subdivision, Parañaque. She is married to businessman Eduardo A. De Castro and they have three children: Maria Cherell, Christine Genevive, and Edouard Anthony. Her half-brother, Eduardo L. Leonardo works as executive assistant VI in Sandiganbayan.

De Castro finished her grade school (1960) and high school education (valedictorian, 1964) at St. Paul College of Parañaque, and earned her political science degree (cum laude, 1968) and Bachelor of Laws (1972) at the University of the Philippines. She passed the Philippine Bar Examination of November, 1972 with bar rating of 80.9%.

She started her judicial career as a law clerk, legal and judicial assistant in the Supreme Court of the Philippines,(1973–1978). She was appointed DOJ State Counsel I and II (1978–1985), and promoted to senior state counsel (1985–1987), supervising state counsel, and chief of the Legal Staff (1988–1989). Before her Sandiganbayan appointment, De Castro was State Counsel V and Legal Staff head at the DOJ (1989–1995). De Castro was the Presiding Justice and Chair of the First Division, Sandiganbayan at the time of her appointment to the High Court.

She held the position of President-elect of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) from 2012 to 2014. She is also the Chairwoman of the 2015 Philippine Bar Examination committee.

On August 25, 2018, President Duterte announced his appointment of De Castro as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, replacing Maria Lourdes Sereno who was removed from office by way of an 8–6 decision by the Supreme Court over a quo warranto petition. She formally assumed the office on August 28.

The trial of Joseph Estrada

Main article: Trial of Joseph Estrada

De Castro headed the anti-graft court's special division on the perjury and plunder trial of former President Joseph Estrada. Estrada's son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada also faced charges. The trial finished in September 2007. Estrada was acquitted of perjury charges but found guilty of plunder and sentenced to life imprisonment. All the co-defendants, including Senator Jinggoy Estrada, were acquitted of all charges.

Estrada appealed the decision and called the court (and De Castro, as head of it) "a kangaroo court", while President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the court's decision must be accepted.

De Castro was appointed to the Supreme Court soon after the end of the highly politicized trial. This led to some accusations of quid pro quo. People claimed that she had convicted former President Estrada in exchange for a seat on the Supreme Court. She vigorously denied those rumors, claiming that she had been a candidate for a seat on the high court before her involvement in the case.

Appointment to the Supreme Court

Chambers of Teresita Leonardo-De Castro (new Supreme Court of the Philippines building)

On October 16, 2007, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) announced the final nominees to the Associate Justice Cancio Garcia's vacant seat. Teresita De Castro, Justices Edgardo Cruz and Martin Villarama, got seven out of eight votes, while Associate Justices Francisco Villaruz and Edilberto G. Sandoval and Labor Secretary Arturo D. Brion got five votes each (from the JBC). Under Philippine law, the president has 90 days to choose from among the final nominees.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada (son of Joseph), vowed to block the appointment to the Supreme Court of Sandiganbayan Justices Teresita de Castro and Francisco Villaruz, Jr. (who convicted his father – President Joseph Estrada). Jinggoy argued that: "Such a promotion would seem like a reward in exchange for the guilty verdict against the deposed President. We are convinced, then and now, that the special court created to exclusively try the case of President Estrada was established precisely to convict him, which is what exactly happened."

De Castro was sworn by Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno on December 4, 2007. Teresita de Castro stated: "Everything happens in God's time. I believe that my 34 years of service in the judiciary and a good track record make me qualified for this position." Immediately after being sworn in, she participated in her first en banc session.

De Castro became controversial when she was the Sandiganbayan's Presiding Justice after her division convicted former President Joseph Estrada for graft. Many believed that her decision was related to her subsequent appointment by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the 160th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 2007 in exchange of her favorable decision.

Reactions to her appointment to the Supreme Court

  • Joseph Estrada called the appointment of Teresita de Castro as a "reward for an unjust conviction ".
  • Sen. Francis Pangilinan questioned de Castro's appointment in light of her impending retirement on October 8, saying it "does not help in the strengthening of the rule of law."
  • Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay and opposition lawmaker Gary Alejano said that de Castro's appointment may be considered as the President's way of paying his debt of gratitude to the second most senior magistrate of the high court.
  • Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. said: "That is the President's call and I do not question it. Of course, other persons may have personal reasons for objecting to the appointment of Justice De Castro. But you cannot please everyone."
  • On December 4, 2007, Senate President Manuel Villar and Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada (the son of Joseph) questioned the timing of de Castro's appointment. Villar stated that: "The appointment coming so soon after de Castro's Division had convicted former President Joseph Estrada is bad timing. It gives the impression that it was her reward for convicting Erap ." Jinggoy Estrada said: "A few months after the conviction of President Estrada, she was immediately appointed to the Supreme Court. I think there was a deal between Malacañang and Sandiganbayan that if she convicts Estrada, she would be appointed to the Supreme Court. That gave political color to the decision of Sandiganbayan. I think she is qualified to be an associate justice. It's just that the timing is wrong. If I were Justice de Castro, I would have refused the appointment out of delicadeza . It did not look good in the eyes of the public."
  • Sen. Richard Gordon stated that "de Castro is highly qualified for the High Tribunal and that her appointment could not be interpreted as "reward" for her decision on the Erap plunder case. Malacañang had ignored the Sandiganbayan's guilty verdict and granted absolute pardon to the former president."
  • Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita defended the appointment of Teresita de Castro noting that she was nominated several times to the post but because she was still handling the Estrada case she was bypassed twice. He added that de Castro deserved the appointment.

Testimony against Sereno

De Castro was one of five sitting justices who sought to nullify the appointment of Maria Lourdes Sereno as the country's top magistrate. De Castro and Sereno were both shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council in 2012 for the Chief Justiceship but then-President Benigno Aquino III appointed the latter to the post. Along with four other members, she was accused of exhausting legal remedies to oust the incumbent Chief Justice.

Chief Justice

On August 25, 2018, De Castro was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, following the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno via quo warranto. She served 46 days until her mandatory retirement on her 70th birthday on 10 October. De Castro's appointment was criticized due to her expected short term of two months since she is obligated to retire on October 8, 2018, as well as her role as one of the five sitting justices who sought to nullify the appointment of Sereno as Chief Justice.

Education and Qualifications

University and Law School

Training Courses

  • Seminar on Loan Negotiation and Renegotiation (August 9 to September 5, 1986), International Law Institute, Washington D.C.
  • Program of Instruction for Lawyers (June 11–21, 2004), Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Seminar Judging Across Borders: Canadian Judges and International Law, (April 6–9, 2005), National Judicial Institute, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Other honors and qualifications

  • Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society;
  • Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in the Social Sciences;
  • Vice Chancellor and consistent Member, Order of the Purple Feather, UP College of Law Honor Society;
  • Executive Vice-President, Philippine Women Judges Association;
  • UP Sigma Alpha Sorority;
  • UP College of Law, Portia Sorority and UP Women Lawyers Circle (WILOCI);
  • University and College Scholar at UP Diliman.

Some notable opinions

See also

References

  1. Profile on Website Supreme Court of the Philippines
  2. Lian Buan, De Castro ends chief justice stint, leaves gifts to court workers, Rappler.com (October 8, 2018)
  3. "Teresita Leonardo de Castro is new Chief Justice". CNN Philippines. August 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  4. "Teresita Leonardo-De Castro is new Supreme Court chief". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  5. "De Castro Appointed SC Associate Justice". ABS-CBN News. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  6. tan.org.ph, APPLICANTS TO THE SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE POST
  7. Sandiganbayan Database profile of relatives in government of TERESITA LEONARDO DE CASTRO
  8. GMA NEWS.TV, Personal Data Sheet of De Castro Archived 2007-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Sandiganbayan Database profile of TERESITA LEONARDO DE CASTRO
  10. Sandiganbayan Directory
  11. Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro Supreme Court Profile
  12. "2015 Bar exams to be held November"
  13. "De Castro is the new Chief Justice-Guevarra". ABS-CBN News Online. 25 August 2018.
  14. "De Castro is new Chief Justice until October". CNN Philippines. August 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  15. GMA NEWS.TV, The SANDIGANBAYAN DECISION
  16. Monstersandcritics.com, Philippines' ex-president Estrada appeals conviction for plunder Archived 2012-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
  17. Reuters, Philippines' Estrada gets life
  18. GMA NEWS.TV, Palace urges Sandigan justices to decline SC nomination
  19. Inquirer.net, Sandiganbayan, 2 CA justices lead nominees for SC post Archived 2008-02-22 at the Wayback Machine
  20. gmanews.tv, Jinggoy vows to block Sandigan justices' appointment to SC
  21. GmaNews.tv, New SC, CA justices to be sworn in Tuesday
  22. AbsCbn, De Castro takes oath of office
  23. Sun Star, De Castro's appointment to SC a political reward: Erap Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ABS-CBN, Government officials react to De Castro’s appointment as chief justice
  25. ABS-CBN, Government officials react to De Castro’s appointment as chief justice
  26. Manila Standard Today, Estradas slam De Castro’s promotion
  27. Manila Times, Villar, Jinggoy hit timing of SC appointment Archived 2007-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
  28. AbsCbn, Ermita defends de Castro's appointment
  29. "Teresita de Castro is new Supreme Court Chief Justice". 25 August 2018.
  30. "Teresita Leonardo de Castro is new Chief Justice". CNN Philippines. August 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2018.

External links

Legal offices
Preceded byRenato Corona
de jure - impeached 		Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
de jure
2018 		Succeeded byLucas Bersamin
Preceded byMaria Lourdes Sereno
de facto - appointment null and void ab initio
Preceded byCancio Garcia Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
2007–2018 		Succeeded byRosmari Carandang
Preceded byRomulo Quimbo Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan
1998–2004 		Succeeded byAlexander Gesmundo
Preceded byEdilberto Sandoval
(acting) 		Presideng Justice of the Sandiganbayan
2004–2007 		Succeeded byEdilberto Sandoval
(acting)
The de Castro Court
2018
August 28, 2018 – October 10, 2018:
The Sereno Court
2012–2018
August 14, 2017 – May 11, 2018:
July 12, 2017 – August 13, 2017:
July 7, 2017 – July 11, 2017:
March 8, 2017 – July 6, 2017:
March 6, 2017 – March 8, 2017:
December 29, 2016 - March 6, 2017:
December 14, 2016 - December 29, 2016:
January 22, 2016 - December 14, 2016:
August 19, 2014 - January 22, 2016:
May 22, 2014 - August 19, 2014:
November 21, 2012 - May 22, 2014:
August 25, 2012 - November 21, 2012:
The Corona Court
2010–2012
16 September 2011 – 29 May 2012:
May 2010 – 17 June 2011:
The Puno Court
2007–2010
4 January – 17 May 2010:
The Pnganiban Court
2005–2007
Chief justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
Categories: