Manila:President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Gamaliel Cordoba, the current chairperson of the Commission on Audit (COA), as the new associate justice of the Supreme Court (SC), as announced by Malacañang on Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Cordoba will replace Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, who is set to retire on November 16, as stated by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro during a press briefing.
Cordoba, a lawyer, economist, and public administrator, brings over two decades of public service experience to the Supreme Court. His recent role was as the head of the country's independent constitutional audit body. Notably, at the COA, he conducted a comprehensive fraud audit of flood control projects and submitted at least 50 fraud audit reports to the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
He also implemented GPS-based geotagging for government infrastructure projects to enhance monitoring and verification processes. Internationally, Cordoba served as an external auditor for the International Labour Organization and the World Trade Organization and chaired the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions in 2024 and 2025.
Before his tenure at the COA, Cordoba was the commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) from 2009 to 2022, marking him as the longest-serving commissioner in the agency's history. During this period, he played a pivotal role in opening the telecommunications industry to a third major player, breaking the long-standing duopoly. Additionally, he approved the application of satellite internet provider Starlink in just 30 minutes, aimed at expanding internet connectivity in remote communities.
Cordoba's initiatives also included efforts to combat text scams and online child sexual abuse materials. In recognition of his achievements, he received the Gawad Gat Andres Bonifacio Award, the highest distinction from the City of Manila, in June 2026.
Educationally, Cordoba earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1992 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1996 from Ateneo de Manila University. He passed the Bar examinations in 1997 and practiced law before entering government service in 2001.
