CHIEF Justice Diosdado Peralta on Monday urged Filipinos to unite to beat the current surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
In his message after leading the flag-raising ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Rizal Park, Manila, Peralta said national hero Jose Rizal, who gave up his life for his country, should serve as an inspiration for every Filipino during the pandemic.
“It’s been a year since we stopped our gathering for Monday’s flag-raising ceremony which signals the start of a week-long work. Despite this, I hope we continue to maintain the spirit of being a Filipino in thought, in word and in deed,” he said.
“Let us unite to succeed in our fight against this pandemic. Most of all, let us continue praying for healing and recovery of country and the world,” Peralta added.
Also present at the flag ceremony were Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Bernardo Florece and National Parks Development Committee representative Cecille Romero.
Peralta said he was delighted to be invited to lead the flag raising, considering that his retirement is already near.
After spending 34 years in the judiciary, Peralta said the thought of his retirement has given him mixed emotions
“Now that my retirement is already near after 34 year of serving our country, I am having mixed emotions; happy because I will have more time as a husband and a father but at the same time sad because I would be leaving my career as a public servant and the Supreme Court which have been my home for 12 years,” Peralta said.
Peralta acknowledged that his term as Chief Justice was not easy, having to lead the judiciary at the time of the pandemic.
Still, Peralta said, the judiciary overcame the challenges and continues to perform its mandate to deliver justice to the people.
Last December 1, 2020, Peralta informed his fellow magistrates of his decision to avail himself of early retirement, but has yet to disclose his reason.
Only three of the most senior associate justices have accepted their automatic nomination for the CJ post, which will be left vacant on March 27.
They are Associate Justices Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Alexander G. Gesmundo, and Ramon Paul L. Hernando.
They have been interviewed by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which is expected to submit its recommendation to the President before Peralta’s retirement.
Two other Associate Justices—Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen and Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, both appointees of former President Aquino to the SC—did not submit their requirement, prompting the JBC to rule out their inclusion in the shortlist.
Based on seniority, Perlas-Bernabe is the most senior among the candidates. She is set to retire on May 14, 2022.
Gesmundo, is set to retire on November 6, 2026; and Hernando, in August 2036.