Retired Court of Appeals Justice Sabio dies at 70

BAGUIO CITY - Retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jose Sabio Jr. passed away Tuesday after a battle with a lingering illness. He was 70.

 

On Wednesday, Supreme Court spokesman and Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez confirmed tha news to reporters during a media seminar here.

 

"Yesterday, unfortunately Justice Jose Sabio passed away in Cagayan [de Oro],"  Marquez said.

 

In a separate statement, the Supreme Court said Sabio's remains currently lie in state at his residence in Cagayan de Oro City.

 

He will be buried on April 23 at the Divine Shepherd Memorial Gardens in Cagayan de Oro City.

 

The former appeals court justice suffered a heart attack in November 2009.

 

Sabio had served as judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Tangub City (March 1990 to May 1991); Branch 27, Gingoog City (May 1991- September 1992); and Branch 23, Cagayan de Oro City (September 1992- May 1999).

 

He was a law professor at the Xavier University-College of Law for more than three decades.

 

He taught law at the Ateneo Law School for a decade, and the Philippine Judicial Academy of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and at the University of the Philippines Institute of Judicial Administration. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News