Remember me as healing justice — CJ Bersamin

MANILA, Philippines — More than a week ahead of his retirement on Oct. 18, Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin has bid goodbye to the magistrates of the Supreme Court (SC), saying he wished to be remembered as “the healing Chief Justice.” 

“I wished to be remembered and known as the healing chief justice who brought stability and normalcy back to the judiciary, particularly to the SC. Yes, the judiciary needed healing and it became my response as chief justice to initiate and ensure such healing,” Bersamin told the magistrates Friday. 

Bersamin took over while the SC was still reeling from the controversies surrounding the ouster of Ma. Lourdes Sereno as chief magistrate.

With Sereno’s ouster, President Duterte appointed Teresita Leonardo-de Castro who retired in October 2018.

Duterte then appointed Bersamin on Nov. 2, 2018 following De Castro’s retirement. 

Bersamin thanked the magistrates for their valuable support to his leadership and for their professionalism, especially in times when they disagree and argue on a particular interpretation of the law.  

He also expressed his appreciation to the people who have worked with him in the past 33 years of his career in the judiciary. 

Bersamin also paid tribute to the late chief justice Renato Corona who was impeached in May 2002. Corona died in April 2016 due to cardiac arrest. He was 67. 

“Honor the memory of the late chief justice Corona for being my CJ Corona,” he said. 

Bersamin also thanked his predecessor, retired chief justice Castro, whom he idolizes as she showed him how to be passionate about legal issues “without being disagreeable.”

Bersamin also expressed his gratitude to Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who is set to retire on Oct. 26.

Bersamin thanked Carpio for his “valuable insights” that he shared not only during the deliberations “but also over the lunches and coffee.” 

“We may not have been on the same side of some issues, but you have never taken anything personally. You were the epitome of professionalism in the court. It is hard for me to imagine how the deliberations of the court will be like after your retirement. Wala na tayong dalawa,” Bersamin said. 

“You have worked on the court for 18 years and you have left an indelible mark about commitment and fealty to the rule of law. I wish you will have more success after retirement,” he said. 

As part of his retirement, Bersamin will receive the Philippine flag and some of the SC’s gems which include pins, a timepiece, seal, photo album, book of decisions, pen, brass shingle, ring, statue of judicial excellence, judicial robe, gavel, plaque of recognition and The Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Award. 

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) recently interviewed associate justices Diosdado Peralta, Jose Reyes Jr., Andres Reyes Jr. and Estela Perlas-Bernabe as nominees to replace Bersamin.

Under the JBC rule, the council will name at least three nominees for submission to Duterte who has 90 days from Oct. 18 to decide on Bersamin’s replacement.