The Supreme Court on Friday held a farewell ceremony for Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, who is set to leave office on Wednesday next week after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Work at the high court was suspended at midday for the retirement ceremony, which was off limits to mediamen.

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Aside from the justices, other guests at the ceremony included Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. The family of former Chief Justice Renato Corona was also invited.

“She traced her legal and judicial career, acknowledged the love and support of her family, noted the lack of collegiality in decision-making on administrative matters during the last few years, and enumerated the many things that she had accomplished in 43 days as Chief Justice,” Guevarra said when asked about De Castro’s farewell speech.

Seniority ‘sacrosanct’

Court employees present at the ceremony quoted De Castro as saying she “never played politics” in her 45 years in government service and that seniority was “sacrosanct” in a collegial body such as the Supreme Court.

President Rodrigo Duterte named De Castro Chief Justice last Aug. 28, replacing Ma. Lourdes Sereno, who was ousted last May 9 after the court’s majority invalidated her appointment due to questions of integrity.

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