Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) – President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Jhosep Lopez associate judge of the Supreme Court, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed on Tuesday.

Duterte on Monday appointed Lopez as a deputy judge at the Court of Appeals, Medialdea said in a media message.

He is the 12th appointed by the president to the 15-member Supreme Court. He takes over the position left vacant by the Partner Judge Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla, who retired in November 2020 for health reasons.

Lopez holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1988 and a Masters in Public Governance from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 2006.

He became chief legal adviser to then Senate Speaker Jovito Salonga before serving as an adviser in Manila 4th District for four four terms, from 1992 to 2007.

He was Manila City Attorney from 2001 to 2012 and CA Associate Judge from 2012.

Lopez turns 58 next month and is expected to retire from the highest court in February 2033. The mandatory Supreme Court retirement age is 70.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta is expected to retire on March 27, 2021, leaving his post vacant for a new person appointed by Duterte.

Peralta was appointed by Duterte as chief magistrate on October 13, 2019. Former president Gloria Macapagal appointed him in 2009 as associate judge of the highest court in the country.

READ: Chief Justice Peralta retires a year earlier