Arroyo appoints new Sandigan justice

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday appointed a new member of the Sandiganbayan. The new appointee is Marikina Regional Trial Court judge Alex Quiroz, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said. Quiroz will occupy the slot previously held by Diosdado Peralta, who was earlier named as presiding justice of the antigraft court. Peralta replaced Teresita Leonardo-de Castro who was appointed to the Supreme Court in December 2007. Before this, Quiroz served as the presiding judge of the Marikita RTC branch 156. His previous stints were presiding and executive judges in the Metropolitan Trial Courts and RTCs of Pasig City and Makati City. - GMANews.TV