The Supreme Court (SC) announced the passing on Tuesday of retired Associate Justice and chairperson of the Judicial Integrity Board Romeo J. Callejo Sr. He was 86.
“We offer our sincerest condolences and prayers. Justice Callejo Sr. will always be remembered as one of the members of the Court who, for close to four decades, tirelessly and selflessly devoted his life in the service of the Judiciary,” Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said.
The remains of Callejo lie in state at Loyola Memorial Chapels along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Public viewing started at 3 p.m. on Sept. 20 and will be held until noon of Sept. 23, the SC said.
A necrological service will be held in Loyola Memorial Chapels on Friday, Sept. 22 starting at 4 p.m., it also said.
Justice Callejo Sr. served as judge of the Manila City regional trial court (RTC) starting in 1986. As RTC judge, he was awarded twice as Outstanding Judge of Manila in 1991 and 1994. In 1992, he was awarded the Cayetano Arellano Award for Judicial Excellence.
In 1994 he was promoted associate justice of the Court of Appeals. In 2002, he was elevated as SC associate justice, a post he held until his mandatory retirement in 2007.
Justice Callejo Sr. was part of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PhilJA) Corps of Professor, and was appointed as PhilJA Vice Chancellor in 2015. In 2020, he was appointed the first JIB chairperson.
He is survived by his wife Filipinas V. Callejo; children Michel and Geraldine Geday, and Romeo and Ivy Callejo; and grandchildren Jacqueline Callejo-Geday and Amelie Callejo.