MANILA - The Supreme Court held a special en banc session on Friday in honor of Associate Justice Noel Tijam, who is set to retire on Saturday, Jan. 5 after almost 2 years in the high court.

All 14 sitting justices were present during the session.

Tijam, currently the 9th most senior justice in the top court, was President Rodrigo Duterte's second appointee to the high court.

“[Justice Tijam] has completed close to a quarter of a century of dedicated judicial work. He has also left an indelible impact on law school education, continuing legal education for lawyers and judges, and rule-making," Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin said in his message.

Tijam penned the decision ousting former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in May 2018.

Tijam also wrote the ruling that junked a petition filed by a group of private hospitals questioning the constitutionality of a law strengthening the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law in November.

He also penned the decision that recently affirmed the conviction on one count of libel against Ang Dating Daan evangelist Bro. Eli Soriano over his statements against Jesus Miracle Crusade evangelist Wilde Almeda.

During the retirement ceremony on Friday, Tijam received tokens from his fellow justices: the SC flag, the Philippine flag, the SC seal, a judicial robe, a brass shingle, an SC ring, SC pen, timepiece, and a book of decisions.

SC PIO: In a special en banc session, the Supreme Court convened this morning for Associate Justice Noel G. Tijam’s retirement ceremony. Justice Tijam is set to compulsorily retire on January 5, 2019. pic.twitter.com/rSHskfW1zQ

— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) January 4, 2019

He was also given the Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Award, a statuette of judicial excellence, and a plaque of recognition.

Tijam was joined by his family in unveiling his portrait.

Tijam graduated with a degree in philosophy and political science from the San Beda College. He finished cum laude and was class salutatorian from the San Beda College of Law. He was only 22 when he passed the Bar Exams in 1971.

Prior to his stint at the SC, he first served as a legal consultant in the Senate before joining the Government Service Insurance System.

He was appointed presiding judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in 1994 and was promoted to the Court of Appeals in 2003 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Ten candidates have been shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council to replace Tijam.

They are: Court of Appeals Associate Justices Manuel Barrios, Japar Dimaampao, Amy Lazar-Javier, Ramon Cruz, Ramon Garcia, Mario Lopez and Apolinario Bruselas Jr., Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, SC Court Administrator Midas Marquez, and former Ateneo Law School Dean Cesar Villanueva.