MUCH ATTENTION from the public was given to Corona’s impeachment trial and the process of selecting his successor. Now that the verdict is in, take a closer look at the events which led up to the appointment of our new Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Infographic by Jan-Daniel S. Belmonte

The judiciary and the powers that be

Research by Jose R. Mendoza

Sec. 1 of the 1987 Constitution states that judicial power lies and rests with the Supreme Court and the lower courts. The courts are composed of four levels.
– The first level courts include the courts based in cities and metropolitan areas.
– The second level refers to regional court trials.
– The third level refers to the Court of appeals, the Court of Tax Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan.
– The last and final level is the Supreme Court.
The courts’ duty is to mediate and settle controversies which are both enforceable and demandable.

Following the 1987 Constitution, appointments to the Supreme Court are made by the president on the basis of a list created by the Judicial and Bar Council. The Supreme Court is composed of one Chief Justice and 14 Associate Justices who all serve until the mandatory retirement of age 70. The Court may sit en banc or be divided.

Some significant events related to the judiciary