SM Prime Strengthens Governance with Justice Perlas-Bernabe on Board

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) has welcomed former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe as its newest Independent Director, further bolstering the company’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and long-term stakeholder value. Her election was approved during a special board meeting on August 15, following the departure of Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, who assumed the role of Solicitor General of the Philippines.

Justice Perlas-Bernabe brings with her an exceptional legacy of judicial service spanning more than two decades, having served at every level of the Philippine judiciary. Known for her unmatched work ethic, she consistently cleared her caseload without backlog until her retirement in 2022. In recognition of her distinguished career, the Supreme Court established the Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe Exemplary Career Jurist Award—an unprecedented honor that underscores her reputation for integrity and excellence.

Her extensive legal expertise, covering both public service and private practice, is expected to provide the Board with invaluable perspectives in governance, compliance, and risk management. SM Prime noted that her addition reinforces the company’s alignment with international best practices in corporate governance, as reflected in its inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series.

Justice Perlas-Bernabe is a Magna Cum Laude graduate in Banking and Finance from St. Paul College of Manila and earned her law degree as Class Salutatorian from Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. She passed the Bar in 1977 and went on to build a multifaceted career in the judiciary, corporate legal practice, and legal education, where she once taught at Ateneo Law School.

Her appointment reflects SM Prime’s continuing effort to maintain a diverse and highly capable board, one that can guide the company in balancing growth with sustainability, while safeguarding the interests of its stakeholders. With her legal acumen and unwavering record of public service, Justice Perlas-Bernabe is expected to play a key role in shaping the company’s governance strategies as it pursues its long-term vision of building sustainable communities across the Philippines.

By adding a jurist of her caliber, SM Prime signals its strong commitment not only to sound corporate leadership but also to upholding values of integrity and responsibility—principles that resonate with the company’s mission of nation-building through property development.