Newly Sworn-in Chief Justice of Supreme Court has low psycho rating

The psychological test results of the new Chief Justice of Supreme Court was found to be low. Here is the news:

The Palace on Sunday played down reports claiming that newly appointed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno scored low in a psychological test required by the Judicial and Bar Council, saying the leaked information was unverified.

“We do not want to comment on the supposed results. The sources of the report have not been verified. It is an unconfirmed report,” said deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte.

She said there was no official statement from the council on the subject.

A daily newspaper (not the Manila Standard) on Friday published alleged leaked information about the psychological tests, which allegedly had Sereno and Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza scoring a 4 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the lowest.

The report also said the test results characterized Sereno as “dramatic and emotional.”

Sereno took her oath before President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday, making her the first female chief magistrate with a potential to serve for the next 18 years before reaching the retirement age of 70.

“Everyone can be assured of independence of the chief justice,” Sereno told reporters after the Palace ceremony, addressing concerns that she was beholden to the President who appointed her to the Court in 2010.

Valte also denied the claims by some groups that Sereno would be a Palace puppet in the high court.

First Female Supreme Court Chief Justice Sworn in

Maria  Lourdes Sereno was sworn in as the first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines after she was appointed by President Benigno Aquino. Here is the news:

MANILA (1st UPDATE) - The new Chief Justice, Maria Lourdes Aranal Sereno, has taken her oath of office before President Aquino in Malacañang a day after the Palace announced her appointment.

Sereno was accompanied by her husband Mario Jose Sereno and children Maria Sophia and Jose Lorenzo.

Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and other members of Supreme Court attended Sereno's oath-taking, including Associate Justices Martin Villarama, Mariano del Castillo, Bienvenido Reyes, and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima congratulated Sereno, giving her a buss on the cheek after the oath-taking.

De Lima said she feels no rancor now even after she was disqualified by the Judicial and Bar Council in the final selection process due to a pending disbarment case against her.

"I congratulated her and I said that the Supreme Court will now be in good hands," de Lima told reporters.

"Her youth and brillance would go a long way in ensuring that we can look forward to a judiciary that would be worthy of the people's trust," de Lima added.

It was also at the Palace where Sereno first took her oath as the President’s first appointee to the Supreme Court in August 2010.

Today, Sereno becomes the first female chief justice of the country.

At the age of 52, Sereno will serve a term of 18 years until her age of retirement at 70.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier said that the President Aquino chose Sereno, believing that she can lead the judiciary in carrying out “much-needed reforms.”

Lacierda added that the judiciary now has a “historic opportunity to restore the people’s confidence in the judicial system.”fem