PNoy appoints 22 new judges in 7 provinces

President Benigno Aquino III has appointed 22 new judges to seven provinces in the Philippines.

 

In a transmittal letter sent to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno dated August 30 but was received by the high court on Thursday, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the President assigned the judges in the provinces of Zamboanga, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Davao, Mindoro, Quezon Province, Cebu, Surigao, Samar, Saranggani and Lanao del Sur.

 

"I am pleased to transmit herewith the appointment letters of the following signed by His Excellency, President Benign S. Aquino III," the letter read.

 

"By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office, furnishing this Office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office," the letter added.

 

The new appointees in Zamboanga were Judge Catherine Calumba Fabian of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 in Zamboanga City; Judge Felix Rodriguez of RTC Branch 18 in Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Norte; Judge Cherry Joy Concha-Ageas of RTC Branch 10 in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte; Judge Anthony Dela Torre Isaw of RTC Branch 24 in Zamboanga Sibugay; Judge AlnaizaTungupon Hassiman of the 5th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Katipunan-Zamboanga Del Norte.

 

In the Misamis provinces, those appointed were Judge Alvyn Lopena of the 3rd MCTC Aloran-Panaon, Misamis Occidental; Judge Stephen Ian Belacho of the 1st MCTC Calamba-Baliangao, Misamis Occidental and Judge Sabrina Balbon Lagamon of the 8th MCTC Initao-Libertad, Misamis Oriental.

 

In Bukidnon, the newly installed judges included Judge Jerlie Luis Requerme of the 3rd MCTC Impasugong-Sumilao, Bukidnon and Judge Susan Son Azares of the 6th MCTC Kibawe-Damulog-Kadingilan, Bukidnon.

 

In Davao, Judge Magnolia Cassion Velez of the RTC Branch 20, Digos City, Davao Del Sur; Judge Nanette Gustillo Lemana of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 6 of Davao City, Davao Del Sur.

 

In Cebu, Judge Kit Enriquez of the 9th MCTC Bolijoon-Alcoy, Cebu and Judge Jacinto Fajardo Jr. of the RTC Branch 66 of Talisay City, Cebu.

 

Other appointees included Judge Gay Marie Lubigan-Rafael of RTC Branch 46, San Jose, Mindoro Occidental; Judge Alelie Briones-Garcia of the 5th MCTC Polilo-Panukulan, Quezon Province; Judge Ingrid Anne Riola-Bermido of the 3rd MVYV Padre Burgos-Agdangan, Quezon Province; Judge Noel Sermense of MTCC Calbayog City, Samar; Judge Cesar Bordalba of RTC Branch 31, Dapa, Surigao Del Norte; Judge Julieto Bajan of MTCC Branch 2, Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte; Judge Arnel Amparo Zapatos of the 1st MCTC Glan-Malapatan Sarangani and Judge Osop Palagawad Abbas of the 9th MCTC Wao-Bumbaran, Lanao Del Sur.

 

The appointees were screened by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which is constitutionally mandated to screeb and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.

 

The seven-man council is chaired by Sereno, with two ex-officio members, namely Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

 

The JBC also has four regular members namely, lawyer Jose Mejia representing the Academe, lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, retired Court of Appeals Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman representing the private sector, and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Regino Hermosisima. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News