President Aquino names 11 new judges

President Benigno S. Aquino III, between Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed 11 new judges in Mountain Province, Bicol Region and Masbate.

This was contained in a one-page transmittal letter sent by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr.to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. Aranal Sereno on Nov. 27, 2014 and made public on Friday.

“I am pleased to transmit herewith the appointment letters of the following signed by His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III,” said the letter signed by Ochoa.

Appointed are Judge Jocelyn Pespes-Humiwat for the 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) in Bauko-Sabangan, Mountain Province.

For the Bicol Region, the new judges are Annielyn B. Medes-Cabelis of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 12, Ligao, Albay.

In the first level court of the Bicol Region, appointed are Joseph Raymond D. Borja of the MTC in Cities Branch 2, Legaspi City, Albay; Alfredo Arneil L. Ramos of the MTC, Pio Duran, Albay; Marlon P. Bacuno of the 2nd MCTC, San Lorenzo Ruiz-Imelda San Vicente, Camarines Norte; Ammelina Bernadette Corazon Palma-Crescini of the MTC, Balatan, Camarines Sur; Rebecca Obsequio Bagasala of MTC, Garchitorena, Camarines Sur; Carlo Martin A. Adille of the 2nd MCTC, Baras-Gigmoto, Catanduanes; Jezebel L. Almodal-Espinosa of the 3rd MCTC, San Fernando-Batuan, Masbate and Joyce B. Gaballo Llacer of the 8th MCTC, San Jacinto-Monreal, Masbate.

The appointees were screened by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) prior to their appointments.

The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees to the Office of the President (OP) for vacant positions in the Judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman).

It is chaired by Chief Justice Sereno, with two ex-officio members, namely Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima.

Retired SC Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez is the head of the Executive Committee and represents the Retired SC Justice Sector; Atty. Jose Mejia representing the Academe, retired Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman representing the private sector, and Atty. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) are the regular members of the JBC.