CHIEF Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo will administer the oath of office of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., at noon of June 30 at the National Museum grounds in Manila.
This was confirmed by SC Public Information Office chief and spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka. He said CJ Gesmundo had already accepted the request to swear in Marcos Jr., the son of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., as the country’s 17th President.
“The Presidential Inauguration is the event of the Executive Branch of Government. Hence, the Supreme Court is not part of the preparations. However, I do confirm that Chief Justice Gesmundo has been requested to administer the oath of President-elect Marcos Jr. on June 30, 2022,” Hosaka said.
Marcos earlier said he would abide by traditions followed in an inauguration.
By tradition, the Chief Justice as head of the judicial branch is given the task to swear in the incoming President.
However, outgoing President Duterte took his oath on June 30, 2016 before SC Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes, who was his fraternity brother at Lex Talionis.
His predecessor, the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, also took his oath before SC Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took her oath before then Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. while former Presidents Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos were sworn in by then Chief Justice Andres Narvasa.
In 1986, former President Corazon Aquino was sworn into office by SC Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee Sr., who was appointed as Chief Justice two years after.
Former Chief Justice Cesar Benzon also administered the oath of former Presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Marcos.
The SC and the Court of Appeals had earlier announced the suspension of their operations on June 29 and June 30 due to anticipated heavy traffic because of the ongoing preparations for the inauguration of Marcos Jr.–