MANILA: The Philippine president appointed the country's first woman Supreme Court chief justice on Friday and praised her ability to lead the court after her predecessor was removed for constitutional violations.

President Benigno Aquino III was confident Maria Lourdes Sereno will lead “in undertaking much-needed reforms” in the judiciary and “restore our people's confidence in the judicial system,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Sereno has been an associate justice on the 15-member tribunal since August 2010 and was formerly a law professor. Now 52, she will serve on the court until retirement at 70.—AP