CA Associate Justice Noel Tijam is SC’s 176th magistrate

MANILA, Philippines – Court of Appeals Associate Justice Noel Tijam is the second Supreme Court magistrate to be appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Tijam was appointed by Duterte, his former classmate, a Palace source told The STAR.

Palace source says President Duterte has appointed Noel Tijam as SC Associate Justice @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) March 8, 2017

The CA magistrate will succeed SC Associate Justice Arturo Brion who retired last December 14.

Noel Tijam is an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals. He is a Bedan @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) March 8, 2017

Tijam’s appointment came two days after Samuel Martires, an associate justice of the Sandiganbayan  and also Duterte's schoolmate at San Beda, was named the 175^th Associate Justice.

During the Judicial Bar Council interview last November, Tijam said he will remain independent in his decisions despite being the former president's classmate. He said he had previously written decisions against two other former presidents.

“Presidents do not make any attempt to influence judges and I have never experienced that... Knowing him (Duterte), he's full of pride, he has a personality, he will be the last person to ask favors in the judiciary,” Tijam previously said.

Duterte is set to appoint another SC justice this year since Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes will retire by July 6. -- with reports by Alexis Romero