SC names members of its three divisions

The Supreme Court (SC) has reorganized the membership in its three divisions following the appointments last week of Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin and Associate Justice Rosmari D. Carandang.

As reorganized, the first division is now composed of Chief Justice Bersamin as chairperson with Associate Justices Mariano C. Del Castillo (working chairperson), Francis H. Jardeleza, Noel G. Tijam, and Alexander G. Gesmundo as members.

The second division is chaired by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio with Associate Justices Estela M. Perlas Bernabe, Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, Jose C. Reyes Jr., and Carandang as members.

The third division is headed by Associate Justice Diosdado M. Peralta with Associate Justices Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, Andres B. Reyes Jr., Ramon Paul L. Hernando, and Carandang (additional member to complete the membership of five justices per division) as members.

Also, Chief Justice Bersamin designated Carpio, Del Castillo and Leonen as members of the raffle committee for the full court (en banc), and Peralta, Bernabe, and Jardeleza for the divisions.

The SC meets on Tuesdays for the full court and Mondays and Wednesdays for the divisions.

The promotion of Bersamin as Chief Justice and head of the judiciary left a vacancy for the post of associate justice in the 15-member SC.

On Jan. 5, 2019, there would be another vacancy with the compulsory retirement of Tijam.