Former Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario, the 15th member of the Supreme Court. (Photo from the Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office/ Twitter)

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario as the 15th member of the Supreme Court (SC).

Rosario occupied the vacancy left by Justice Jose Reyes Jr. who retired last Sept. 18 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Rosario served in the appellate court for 15 years.

He was also a Manila Metropolitan Trial Court and Makati Regional Trial Court judge.

Rosario took his oath of office on Friday before Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta.

Of the 15 high court members, 11 were appointed by Duterte.

“As the newest member of the High Court, we are confident that Justice Rosario would advocate judicial independence, uphold the rule of law, and continue the reforms in our court processes,” Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.

“We wish Justice Rosario all the best in his new assignment at the SC.” John Ezekiel J. Hirro