Supreme Court Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio (Photo courtesy of Center for Strategic and International Studies)
MANILA -- Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio bade farewell to the Supreme Court (SC) during a flag-raising ceremony on Monday, ahead of his scheduled retirement on Oct. 26 when he completes an 18-year stint as magistrate of the high court.
In his speech, Carpio thanked SC employees and colleagues for their "unselfish support".
"Eighteen years ago I stood here on this very spot to introduce myself as the newly appointed justice of the court. I then asked for your support to help me dispense justice to our people. After 18 years I stand here on this same spot to thank you for your unselfish support and to bid you farewell as I retire midnight of Friday this week," Carpio said.
"I dare say that my colleagues in the en banc and my co-workers in the SC family have always shown utmost dedication and professionalism in their work and service to the Filipino people, so let me say a big thank you to all of you," he added.
Last week, the high court, acknowledging his service to the judiciary, voted to grant Carpio full retirement privileges for a chief justice.
Carpio, who will retire at the mandatory age of 70, is one of the longest-serving magistrates since the Supreme Court was established in 1901. His replacement will be President Rodrigo Duterte's 12th appointee to the SC.
Carpio was able to complete 935 full-blown long decisions, 79 dissenting opinions, 30 concurring opinions, 13 separate opinions and four concurring and dissenting opinions, leaving no backlog. (PNA)
