Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda sworn in as PH's 28th Chief Justice

Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda formally assumed the judiciary's highest post after taking his oath as the Philippines' 28th chief justice, succeeding Alexander Gesmundo, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 on Nov. 6.

Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen administered the oath-taking ceremony at the Supreme Court en banc session hall in Manila.

A Philippine News Agency report said Zalameda's appointment capped more than three decades in public service, including stints as a court clerk, public prosecutor, Court of Appeals justice and, most recently, Supreme Court associate justice.

During his public interview before the Judicial and Bar Council last month, Zalameda cited his broad experience within the justice system as a key qualification for the judiciary's top post.

The report said Zalameda graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University College of Law in 1987 under a scholarship program and passed the Bar examinations the following year.

He began his career as a branch clerk of court in Makati before entering private practice and later returning to government service as a prosecutor.

In 2002, he was appointed Mandaluyong city prosecutor before joining the Court of Appeals, where he served for more than a decade. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019.

Zalameda was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, Ma. Vilma Amor, and their son, Atty. Jasper Rodil II, alongside members of the judiciary, retired justices and court officials.

Paraluman News with a report from Philippine News Agency