Sandiganbayan justice appointed to SC

SANDIGANBAYAN ASSOCIATE JUSTICE Alexander G. Gesmundo has been appointed to the Supreme Court (SC), as announced by the High Court on Monday, Aug. 14.

In the transmittal letter signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea dated that Monday, Mr. Gesmundo takes the seat of retired Associate Justice Jose C. Mendoza, who retired on Aug. 13.

Mr. Gesmundo is the fourth appointee of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. His first two appointees are fellow alumni of the San Beda College of Law, Associate Justices Samuel R. Martires and Noel G. Tijam. Mr. Duterte’s third appointee is Court of Appeals (CA) Presiding Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr.

Mr. Gesmundo first started public service at the Office of the Solicitor- General (OSG) as trial attorney in August 1985. During his stint at the OSG, he was recognized as Most Outstanding Solicitor in 1998. He was later appointed to Assistant Solicitor- General in August 2002.

He was also a member of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) 2004 Committee on Revision of the Rules of the CTA.

Mr. Gesmundo was then appointed to the graft court on Oct. 15, 2005, where he currently sits as chair of its 7th Division.

He received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Ateneo de Manila University of Law, where he currently teaches Remedial Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Lyceum of the Philippines in 1977.

Mr. Duterte will appoint at least 10 justices in his sixyear term. —