PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Court of Appeals Justice Japar Dimaampao, a professor of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Dimaampao, the second Muslim to get a seat at the high tribunal, took the post vacated by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

“We congratulate Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao for being appointed to the Supreme Court, and wish him well as he continues to serve the Filipino people,” PLM President Emmanuel Leyco said.

Dimaampao is a professorial lecturer for the PLM College of Law and has previously taught at the Graduate School of Law.

He is an accountant and earned his law degree from the University of the East College of Law.

He is also a former state prosecutor and a Regional Trial Court judge in Mandaluyong City before he became the youngest Court of Appeals justice at 40.

Dimaampao’s term at the high court will be until 2033, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.