Supreme Court conducts retirement ceremony for De Castro

The Supreme Court on Friday  held a retirement ceremony for Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro, who is stepping down as the head of the judiciary next week.

According to a report on Balitanghali on Friday, De Castro served as Chief Justice for only 44 days, replacing ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

De Castro's public service career started in 1973, when she was appointed a law clerk at the Supreme Court. She became the Presiding Justice of the Sandiganbayan in 2004 and joined the Supreme Court as Associate Justice three years later.

She also served as an international peace negotiator during the Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos administrations.

Earlier this year, De Castro was one of eight Associate Justices who voted to grant Solicitor General Jose Calida's quo warranto petition against Sereno, ousting her from office.

The Judicial and Bar Council is accepting applications for the new Chief Justice and nominations to replace Associate Justice Noel Tijam, who will turn 70—the mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices—in January. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/BM, GMA News