By Kenneth Paciente
Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Edgardo Delos Santos has expressed his intent to leave his post ahead of his mandatory retirement due to health reasons, SC Spokesperson Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka confirmed on Friday.
Delos Santos informed Atty. Hosaka he is contemplating on stepping down prior to his mandatory retirement on June 12, 2022, when he turns 70.
“That is the reason why he advised his staff as early as March 19, 2021, through a letter of even date, to start looking for other employment knowing the difficulty of finding a job during this pandemic,” Hosaka relayed.
Hosaka clarified that “Justice Delos Santos further added that he remains an incumbent member of the Supreme Court until after a specific date of retirement, as may be indicated in a formal letter from him to the En Banc is accepted and acted upon by the Court.”
In a letter dated March 19, 2021, Justice Delos Santos has advised his staff about his decision to “hang his robe early” and that he agonized over this decision.
“I spent sleepless nights trying to think of a better – no, make that – best way to announce my decision to you, my staff, in light of the trying times we are currently experiencing.” Justice Delos Santos shared.
He also thanked his staff, saying without their industry and dedication, he would have found his job as a magistrate “tremendously difficult.”
“In the brief time that we have together, I have found comfort in coming to our office with the knowledge that I am among trusted people. I saw and felt your enthusiasm in your work which in turn encouraged me to do my best as your boss and mentor,” he concluded.
Delos Santos served as a Court of Appeals Justice before he joined the High Court in December 2019. Aside from him, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta also opted for early retirement.