supreme court in philippines

2. SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE
The Supreme Court of the Philippines
Filipino: “Kataas-taasang Hukuman ng
Pilipinas”
Colloquially in Spanish: “Korte Suprema”
 It is the highest court in the Philippines.
 The court consists of 14 associate justices and
1 Chief Justice.

3. CHIEF Justice
Maria Lourdes Aranal Sereno
Birth Date: July 2, 1960
Birth Place: Manila
Assumed Office: August 13, 2010
(She is President Aquino’s first appointment in the
Supreme Court)
Educational Background
o Ateneo de Manila University (1980): A.B.
Economics

4. o Cum Laude, Class Valedictorian
o 14th in the Bar Examinations
o University of the Philippines School of Economics: Units in
the Master of Arts in Economics Program
o University of Michigan Law School (1993): Master of Laws
o University of the Philippines College of Law (1984)
Award/Achievement
o In 1998, she was TOWNS (Ten Outstanding Women in
the Nation’s Service) awardee for Law.

5. Justice Antonio Tirol Carpio
BBiirrtthh PDlaatcee: :O Dcatovbaeor C 2i6ty,, 1P9h4i9lippines
Assumed office: October 26, 2001

6. EDUCATIONAL BACKGOUND
o He obtained his law degree at the University of the Philippines
(UP) where he graduated Valedictorian and cum laude in 1975.
o He took up AB Economics as pre-Law at the Ateneo De Manila
University (1970)
Carpio took the Bar Examinations in 1976 and landed on the 6th
place with a grade of 85.70%.
He was the first appointee to the Supreme Court by Pres. Gloria
Arroyo; he was sworn in as Associate Justice on October 26,
2001.

7. Achievements/Awards
o He was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in
Law by the Ateneo de Manila Alumni Association in 1991.
o In 1998, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit
by then Pres. Ramos.
I o n 2002, he was the recipient of the Distinguished
Alumnus Award given by the Ateneo De Davao Alumni
Association.
o He was conferred a Doctorate of Laws, honoris causa, by
the Ateneo de Davao University.

8. Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo
Birthdate: July 29, 1949
Birthplace: Mandaue City, Cebu
Assumed Office: July 29, 2009

9. Educational Background:
o San Beda College
o Ateneo de Manila University, Bachelor of Laws
Class of 1971
Awards and Achievements
o Best Performing Court of Appeals Justice (2004)
o “Justice George A. Malcolm Award” by the Rotary Club
of Manila (2004)
o Presiding Justice Award for Outstanding Performance
(2007)

10. Justice Lucas P.Bersamin
Birthdate: October 18, 1948
Birth Place: Bangued, Abra
Assumed Office: April 3, 2009

11. Educational Background:
o St. Joseph Seminary in Bangued, Abra, High School
o University of the Philippines, Bachelor of Arts in
Political Science (1968)
o University of the East, Law Studies (1973)
o Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute in
Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada

12. Awards and Achievements
o Ninth place in the 1973 Bar Exam (with an average of 86.3%)
o Outstanding Alumnus inGovernment Service, Judiciary and
Outstanding Alumnus in the Field of Law by the UE Alumni
Association, Inc.
o Best Decision in Civil Law and Best Decision in Criminal Law
awards, Judicial Excellence Awards (2000)
o UE’s Oustanding Alumnus in the Judiciary (2001)
o Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Award (Outstanding RTC
Judge), 11th Judicial Excellence Awards (2002)
o The 60 Most Outstanding Alumni Award, UE’s Diamond Jubilee
Awards (2006)

13. Justice Arturo D. Brion
Birthdate: December 29, 1946
Birth Place: San Pablo, Laguna
Assumed Office: March 17, 2008

14. Educational Background:
o San Pablo Colleges, Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics
o Ateneo de Manila University, Bachelor of Laws Class of
1974 (Cum Laude)
o Osgoode Hall Law School of York University in Toronto,
Canada, Master of Laws: Labor of Law (1994)
o Instituto Cervantes de Manila, Level 10 Spanish
Language Course (2005-2006)

15. Awards and Achievements
o Golden Leaf Award
o Gold Medal for Academic Excellence
o First Honors Gold Medal
o Bar Examinations Top Notcher (with a grade of 91.65%)

16. Justice Diosdado M. Peralta
Birth Date: March 27, 1952
Birth Place: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Assumed Office: January 14, 2009

17. Educational Background
o Colegio de San Juan de Letran (1974): Bachelor of
Science
o University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law:
Bachelor of Laws (1979)
Awards and Achievements
o “A 2002 Judicial Excellence Awardee, he was a recipient of the
Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña Award for Outstanding RTC Judge.
o In 2001, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the SC granted
Peralta the Special Centennial Award in Criminal Law.
o In 2006, the Ulirang Ama Sectoral Award on Law and Judiciary was
given to him by the Ulirang Ama Foundation, Inc.

18. Justice Jose P. Perez
Birth date: December 14, 1946
Birth place: Batangas
Assumed office: December 26, 2009

19. Education Background
o Saint Bridget’s College, Elementary, Salutatorian
(1959)
o Batangas City High School, Valedictorian (1963)
o University of the Philippines, BA Political Science
(1967)
o University of the Philippines, Bachelor of Laws
(1971)

20. ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS
o His academic achievements gained him entry to the Phi
Kappa Phi and Phi Gamma MuHonor Societies as well as
the Order of the Purple Feather, the UP Law Honor Society.

21. Justice Jose C. Mendoza
Birth date: August 13, 1947
Birth place: Alcala, Cagayan
Assumed office: January 4, 2010

22. Education Background
o Maryknoll – Lipa City, Elementary (1959)
o De La Salle, High School (1965)
o University of the Philippines, BA Political Science
(1967)
o San Beda College, Bachelor of Laws (1971)

23. Awards and Achievements
o Judicial Excellence Award
o Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC)
Outstanding Judge Award (2002)

24. Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr.
Birth Date: August 8, 1948
Birth Place: Pasay City
Date of Appointment: March 31, 2006

25. Educational Background
o Sumulong Elementary School: First Honorable Mention
o University of the Philippines (UP) Preparatory School
o University of the Philippines: BA Political Science (got the
degree in three years)
o UP College of Law (1971)
o Eight in the class (Grade: 1.79)
o Member of the Order of the Purple Feather Honor Society
o Philippine Law Journal: Editorial Board member
o Sixth in the 1971 Bar Examinations (Grade: 89.85%)

26. Awards and Achievements
o In 2000, Velasco was awarded the Most Outstanding Jurist by the
Consumers Union of the Philippines.
o In 2001, when Velasco was named Court Administrator, he was
ranked eighth in disposition of cases.

27. Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro
Birthdate: October 8, 1948
Birthplace: Paranaque, Metro Manila
Assumed Office: December 3, 2007
Educational Background
o International Law Institute in Washington
D.C., USA
o University of the Philippines, Bachelor of Laws
Class of 1972
o University of the Philippines, Bachelor of Arts in
Political Science Class of 1968 (Cum Laude)
o Harvard Law School’s Program of Instruction of
Lawyers in Massachusetts, USA

28. Awards and Achievements
o Presidential Medal of Merit by President Fidel V.
Ramos (1998)

29. Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes
Birthdate: July 6, 1947
Birthplace: Obando, Bulacan
Assumed office: August 16, 2011

30. Educational Background
o Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Santo Tomas in
1967. Immediately
o Bachelor of Laws Degree at San Beda College and finished the
same in 1971. He passed the Bar Examinations in the same year
with a rating of 81.6 percent.

31. Awards and Achievements
o Most Outstanding Alumnus by his high school alma mater, Colegio
de San Pascual Baylon on 1998
o He was given the Plaque of Distinction for Outstanding
Achievement in the Field of Law and Jurisprudence by the Lex
Talionis Fraternitas Inc.; and
o A Certificate of Recognition by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
Calmanava Chapter for his exemplary achievement as an RTC
Judge of Malabon.
o He was also given a Certificate of Recognition in the field of Law
and Jurisprudence by the San Beda College of Law in July 2002.
o In 2003, he was recipient of Gawad Dangal ng Obando,
Natatanging Obandeňo Award for being the Most Outstanding
Citizen of Obando, Bulacan in the field of law.

32. o In 2011, he received the following: Gawad bilang Kasaping
Pandangal (IBP Gat Marcelo H. del Pilar Bulacan Chapter);
Fraternal Scroll of Distinction (Lex Talionis Fraternitas, Inc. ),
Pagkilala - Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan
o Outstanding Bedan Law Alumni Award, 2012 Distinguished
Bedan Award, and the Huwarang Anak ng Bulacan 2012 in the
field of Judiciary
o During his stint as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, he
received recognition for having achieved Zero Backlog in his
docket as of November 2010.

33. Justice MARVIC MARIO VICTOR F. LEONEN
Birthdate: December 29, 1962
Birthplace: Baguio, Philippines
Assumed office: November 21, 2012

34. Educational Background:
o Saint Louis University-Boys' High School as valedictorian
o Graduated magna cum laude with a degree in economics from
the University of the Philippines in 1983 and served as chairman
of the organization Economics Toward Consciousness
o Obtained his law degree from the university's College of Law in
1987.
o He served as the Center's executive director for fifteen years.He
then left for Columbia University in New York, USA for his Master
of Laws degree.

35. Justice Perlas-Bernabe
Birthdate: May 14, 1952
Birthplace: Plaridel, Bulacan,
Philippines
Assumed office: September 16, 2011
Educational Background
o Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in
Banking and Finance (magna cum laude) at St.
Paul College of Manila
o Earnd her law degree from the Ateneo Law
School graduating as Class Salutatorian in 1976.

36. AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
o Court of Appeals Award for Exemplary Performance, CA
Award of Recognition for Outstanding Performance in Case
Disposition
o Best Written Decision-Municipal/Metropolitan Trial Court
from the Philippine Women Judges Association
o Natatanging Babaeng Hukom-Municipality of Plaridel,
Bulacan; and Gawad Parangal 2008 as Outstanding Alumna
for Dedicated Service to Country and People-St. Paul
University Manila; and
o Huwaran Anak ng Bulakanand Gat Marcelo H. del Pilar
Awards in 2011.

37. Justice Martin S. Villarama, Jr.
Birth date: April 14, 1946
Birth place: Manila
Date of Appointment: November 3,
2009

38. EducationAL Background
o F.G. Calderon Elementary School (1958)
o Manuel L. Quezon High School (1962)
o De La Salle University, BS Business Administration
(1966)
o Manuel L. Quezon University, Bachelor of Laws
(1970)

39. Awards/Achieviements
o He served as its Executive Judge from 1992 to 1996.
o A recipient of the Ulirang Ama Award for Law; and
o Judiciary and the Katangi-tanging Anak ng Angat, Bulacan Award
in 2003.
o He has also received recognition as one of the justices with zero or
least pending cases during the 71st anniversary of the CA in 2007.

40. RETIRED Justice Roberto A. Abad
Birth date: May 22, 1944
Birth place: Tondo, Manila
Assumed office: August 7, 2009

41. Educational Background
o Manuel L. Quezon University, College
o Ateneo de Manila,
Bachelor of Laws
 Roberto Abad just retired this May, 2014
where Outgoing Solicitor
General Francis Jardeleza
was the appointee of
President Benigno Aquino on
August 19, 2014.

42. Achievements
oAuthor of two books, Practical Book in Legal Writing (2002);
and
oFundamentals of Legal Writing (2004)

43. JUSTICE Francis Jardeleza
Bithdate: September 26, 1949
Birthplace: Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines
Assumed office :August 19, 2014

44. Educational Background
o He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science
from the University of the Philippines Visayas in 1970.
o He earned his law degree at the University of the Philippines
College of Law at UP Diliman, where he graduated as
salutatorian in 1974.
o As a student at UP Law, Jardeleza was Vice-Chairman of the
Philippine Law Journal.
o He was admitted to the bar in 1974, having placed third in the
bar examinations held that year. In 1977, Jardeleza obtained a
Masters of Law degree from Harvard Law School.

45. PROMISED OF JUSTICE JARDELEZA:
"My commitment to untiring preparation and legal reasoning...will
be able to bring to the Court a certain level of credibility as
regards decision-making," Jardeleza said during the JBC-set
public interviews. He also believes lawyers do aspire to become
SC justices.

46. • http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph
• http://www.gov.ph/directory/supreme-court-of-the-philippines
• http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/aboutsc/justices
• http://ca.judiciary.gov.ph/index.php?action=profile
2

47. "I hope the public will realize that there are
excellent people within the judiciary.
Reform and strength can come from
within.” –Ma. Lourdes Sereno

48.  Prepared by:
Antonio Narciso III
Aira Macatulad
Clarence Dasalla
Kreulen Tindoc
Josiemay Pagbilao
Rommel Bayaua
Argie Gale
Reinalynne Guzman
Sweet Valdez