Lucas Bersamin

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The Honorable
Lucas P. Bersamin
Official Portrait, 2020
40th Executive Secretary of the Philippines
Assumed office
September 27, 2022
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byVic Rodriguez
Chairman of the Government Service Insurance System
In office
February 6, 2020 – September 27, 2022
Appointed byRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byJesus Clint Aranas
Rolando Macasaet (OIC)
Succeeded byJose Arnulfo Veloso (Acting)
25th Chief Justice of the Philippines
In office
November 26, 2018 – October 18, 2019
Appointed byRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byTeresita de Castro
Succeeded byDiosdado Peralta
163rd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
In office
April 3, 2009 – November 28, 2018
Appointed byGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byAdolfo Azcuna
Succeeded byHenri Jean Paul Inting
Personal details
Born (1949-10-18) October 18, 1949 (age 74)
Bangued, Abra, Philippines
SpouseAurora Bagares
Children3
EducationUniversity of the Philippines (BA)
University of the East (LL.B.)
AffiliationScintilla Juris Fraternity

Lucas “Luke” Purugganan Bersamin (born October 18, 1949) is a Filipino lawyer and jurist who currently serves as the 40th Executive Secretary of the Philippines.[1] Bersamin previously served in the Supreme Court of the Philippines for 10 years, first as an associate justice from 2009 to 2018 and then as the 25th Chief Justice of the Philippines from 2018 until his retirement in 2019.[2][3] He was named by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the high court as an associate justice on April 2, 2009. Prior to becoming an associate justice, he was a member of the Court of Appeals.

He was the chairperson of the Government Service Insurance System and a member of its board of trustees since 2020[4] until his appointment as Executive Secretary in the Marcos Jr. administration, as confirmed by Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles on September 27, 2022.[5]

Biography

Bersamin graduated as valedictorian from Colegio del Sagrado Corazon in

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.[7]

Educational career

Bersamin was in private practice from 1974 until 1986, when he was appointed a trial court judge in

in 2006. He continues to lecture for the Philippine Judicial Academy.

Law career

Official portrait of Lucas Bersamin as Associate Justice

In 2003, Bersamin was elevated to the Court of Appeals by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In April 2009, Bersamin was elevated by President Arroyo to associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Bersamin was one of the associate justices who voted in favor of the

Teresita Leonardo-de Castro as new chief justice of the Philippines, replacing Maria Lourdes Sereno. President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Bersamin as the new chief justice on November 26, 2018, succeeding Teresita Leonardo-De Castro.[9][10][11]

On February 6, 2020, Bersamin was appointed by Duterte to be the chairperson of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and a member of the agency's board of trustees. He will serve the unexpired term of former GSIS president Jesus Clint Aranas, which ended on June 30, 2020.[4]

He is the brother of congressman Luis "Chito" Bersamin Jr. of Abra, who was gunned down during a wedding ceremony[12] and of Abra governor Eustaquio Bersamin.[13]

Personal life

Bersamin is married to the former Aurora A. Bagares, a business proprietress, with whom he has three children: Pia Cristina, Luis Isidro, and Lucas Riel Jr.

References

  1. ^ Fernandez, Daniza; Pablico Lalu, Gabriel. "Ex-Chief Justice Bersamin is Marcos' new executive secretary". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "CJ Bersamin Receives Certificate of Appreciation from SC PRAISE Committee". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "Metro News Today: Bersamin Is The New Chief Justice". League Online News. November 28, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Gita-Carlos, Ruth Abbey (February 14, 2020). "Ex-Chief Justice Bersamin named GSIS chair". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Galvez, Daphne (September 27, 2022). "Palace: New Exec Secretary Bersamin 'well-qualified,' enjoys Marcos' trust". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin". Supreme Court E-Library. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "Justice Lucas P. Bersamin". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Archived from the original on January 23, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  8. ^ Patag, Kristine Joy (May 11, 2018). "SC votes to oust Sereno". Philstar.com.
  9. ^ Lopez, Virgil (November 28, 2018). "SC Associate Justice Bersamin named new Chief Justice". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  10. ^ "Lucas Bersamin is the new Chief Justice: source". ABS-CBN News. November 28, 2018.
  11. ^ Patag, Kristine Joy (November 28, 2018). "Bersamin is Duterte's new chief justice". Philstar.com.
  12. ^ "Bersamin's brother elated over murder raps filed vs Valera". February 19, 2008.
  13. ^ Romero, Purple S. (April 2, 2009). "(Update) Bersamin is new SC justice". abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak.
Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
2009–2018
Succeeded by
Henri Jean Paul B. Inting
Preceded by
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

2018–2019
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Victor Rodriguez
Executive Secretary of the Philippines
2022–present
Incumbent
Order of precedence
Preceded by
Ambassadors to the Philippines
(in order of tenure)
Order of Precedence of the Philippines
as Executive Secretary of the Philippines
Succeeded byas Secretary of Finance
Preceded by
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
*as Officer-in-charge
**in Concurrent capacity