No contest for new IBP officials

CEBU, Philippines - The two chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu elected yesterday its new sets of officers without a contest since all candidates ran unopposed.

Lawyer Hidelito Pascual was chosen the next president of the IBP-Cebu City Chapter while Lawyer Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. will be the province chapter’s president for the next two years.

Both Pascual and Malig-on are incumbent vice presidents in their respective chapter.

Although there was no contest, the voting continued to determine the number of votes each candidate will get. Pascual, who garnered 104 votes, will replace incumbent president Mae Ellain Bathan. Malig-on (139 votes), on the other hand, will replace Erwin Rommel Heyrosa.

The other elected officers of Cebu City Chapter are: Jose Glenn Capanas, vice president; Mark Anthony Gaviola, secretary; Michelle Mendez-Palmares, treasurer; Regal Oliva, auditor; and Chad Rodolfo Miel, PRO.

The board of directors are Fillmore Gomos, Anabelle Pulvera-Page, Christine Marie Naranjo, Piedad Gonzales and Leslie Ann Reyes.

For Cebu Province Chapter, Joel Seno was elected vice president; Ria Lidia Espina, secretary; Mundlyn Misal – Martin, treasurer; Pheneir Mora, auditor; and Maryther Heyrosa – Budomo, PRO.

The directors include Renato Galeon, Cheryl Palacao – Condat, Fermin Pepito, Fritz Baguio and Leilani Villarino.

The new officers will lead the over 2,000 members in Cebu City and 1,300 members in the province. Their term of office will start on April 1 until 2017.

The newly elected presidents for both chapters vowed to expand the services of the IBP in providing legal aid to the poor litigants.

Pascual and Malig-on also plan to help members of the barangay justice system in the administration of justice, conduct trainings for law students, among others.

Pascual said he will also look for more opportunities to serve his members.

Pascual graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1971 and passed the bar examination the year after. He used to teach at the University of San Carlos.

He worked at Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation for 20 years before he went back to law practice in 1993.

Malig-on finished his law studies at the University of San Jose – Recoletos in 1997 and took his oath as lawyer a year after. — /FPL (FREEMAN)