Justice Francisco, 73

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Ricardo J. Francisco died yesterday at the age of 73.

Francisco, son of the late Sen. Vicente Francisco and Maria Jalbuena, was a member of the High Court’s third division. He was appointed to the SC on Jan. 5, 1995 and retired on Feb. 13, 1998, his 70th birthday.

Prior to his appointment to the SC, Francisco was judge of the court of first instance in Sta. Cruz, Laguna; judge of the CFI in Pasig, Rizal; and executive judge of the regional trial court in Makati. In 1986, he was appointed associate justice of the Court of Appeals, where he was chairman of the 7th division.

He was assistant editor of the Lawyers Journal. He authored Pleadings and Trial Practice, Handbook on Evidence, Criminal Procedure Annotated and Evidence Annotated.

Francisco obtained his associate in arts degree at the Ateneo de Manila, where he also studied law for two years. He completed his law studies at the Francisco Law School in 1952 and passed the bar in 1953. He subsequently earned a master of laws degree at the Francisco Law School.

His remains will be brought to the Supreme Court Session Hall at 9:45 a.m. on Dec. 18. Mass will be held at 2 p.m. and necrological services will follow at 3 p.m. Interment will be on Dec. 20.