Alexander Gahon Gesmundo (born November 6, 1956) is serving as the chief justice of the Philippines since April 5, 2021. He replaced Diosdado Peralta, who retired early on March 27, 2021.[1] He previously served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from 2017 to 2021.

Alexander G. Gesmundo
27th Chief Justice of the Philippines
Assumed office
April 5, 2021
Appointed byRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byDiosdado Peralta
178th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
In office
August 14, 2017 – April 5, 2021
Appointed byRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byJose C. Mendoza
Succeeded byJapar Dimaampao
Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan
In office
October 15, 2005 – August 14, 2017
Appointed byGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byTeresita de Castro
Succeeded byRonald Moreno
Personal details
Born
Alexander Gahon Gesmundo

(1956-11-06) November 6, 1956 (age 68)
San Pablo City, Philippines
Alma mater
AffiliationFraternal Order of Utopia

Biography

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Gesmundo is the fourth chief justice appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte[2] and the third Atenean to assume the post of the high tribunal.[3]

Gesmundo is a member of the Philippine Independent Church.[4] He studied Bachelor of Science in Economics at the Lyceum of the Philippines University while he obtained his law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1984 and passed the Philippine Bar in April 1985.[5]

He started working as a trial attorney at the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in 1985 and was awarded the Most Outstanding Solicitor three years later.[5]

He was on seconded appointment as commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government from July 17, 1998 to February 15, 2001.[5]

In August 2002, he was promoted to assistant solicitor general. He continued to serve in the OSG until October 2005.[5] After 20 years with the OSG, he was then appointed as an associate justice of the Sandiganbayan on October 15, 2005, later as chairperson of its seventh division and co-chairperson of the Committee on Rules.

On August 14, 2017, Gesmundo became the 178th Supreme Court magistrate, assuming the post vacated by Justice Jose C. Mendoza who reached mandatory retirement age.[6]

As chief justice, he will mandatorily retire on November 6, 2026.

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References

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  1. ^ Calayag, Keith (2 April 2021). "Duterte Appoints Alexander Gesmundo Chief Justice". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Hon. Alexander G. Gesmundo is 27th Chief Justice". Supreme Court of the Philippines. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  3. ^ Bunye, Ignacio R. (May 27, 2024). "Chief Justice, 4 SC Justices 'framed' and then 'hanged' in Ateneo Law Alumni rites for gallery". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  4. ^ Solidarity Message of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. IFI Page Gallery. July 15, 2022. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022 – via Facebook.
  5. ^ a b c d "Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  6. ^ Torres-Tupas, Nestor Corrales (14 August 2017). "Duterte Appoints Gesmundo New SC Associate Justice". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
Legal offices
Preceded by
Teresita de Castro
Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan
2003–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
2017–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
2021–present
Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded byas Speaker of the House of Representatives Order of Precedence of the Philippines
as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Succeeded byas Secretary of Foreign Affairs