A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING CHIEF JUSTICE MARIA LOURDES PUNZALAN-ARANAL SERENO FOR BEING APPOINTED AS THE 24TH

CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES

WHEREAS, it recognized that the Supreme Court of the Philippines is the highest arbiter of the land and that the power and the weight of Supreme Courts decision can wield great power to effect change through the collective written word expressed in its opinions. WHEREAS, it is the belief of President Benigno C. Aquino III that the Judicial Branch of the government has historic opportunity to restore people confidence in the judicial system. WHEREAS, on August 16, 2010, President Benigno C. Aquino III made lawyer-academe Maria Lourdes Punzalan-Aranal Sereno his first appointee to the Supreme Court of the Philippines as its 169th Justice. WHEREAS, in his confidence and optimism that she can lead and implement a much-needed reform in the judicial system, President Benigno C. Aquino III appointed Maria Lourdes Punzalan-Aranal Sereno as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on August 24,2012. WHEREAS, who at 52 has 18 years to serve as chief magistrate and is the youngest to be so appointed to the Supreme Court in this century; WHEREAS, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Punzalan-Aranal Sereno is also the first female Chief Justice to preside over the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the highest judicial officer of the State.

BE IT RESOLVE AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to commend and congratulate Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Punzalan-Aranal Sereno for being appointed as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.