Manila judge gets Sandigan post

MANILA, Philippines - The new magistrate appointed by President Aquino to the Sandiganbayan is known by colleagues for her excellence in judicial service and also for her leadership.

Judge Maria Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta of Manila regional trial court (RTC) Branch 7 was a recipient of the Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano Award for judicial excellence in 2012.

During the awarding ceremony, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno called her a “modern-day hero” while Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio – who chairs the board of judges who picked Estoesta from among 85 nominees – branded her a “true leader.”

In receiving the award, Estoesta said that while every judge has his or her own way of dispensing justice, she believes in being “a servant first and a leader later.”

“We will not let a single day pass without reaffirming our personal convictions for work ethics,” she vowed.

A native of Angeles City in Pampanga, Estoesta was the public relations officer of Manila RTC Judges Association and second vice executive judge of Manila RTC.

She joined the government in 1991 as a solicitor in the Office of the Solicitor General until she was appointed to the judiciary in February 2002 as a metropolitan trial court judge in Manila.

In 2006, she was promoted as RTC judge.

The Palace announced the appointment of Estoesta yesterday for the lone vacancy in the Sandiganbayan vacated by the promotion of Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang on Oct. 1 last year.

She was chosen from a shortlist of five court judges, two Department of Justice (DOJ) officials and an assistant solicitor general. The other nominees were Judges Maryann Corpus-Mañalac of the Makati RTC, Bernelito Fernandez of the Quezon City RTC, Ronaldo Martin of the Antipolo RTC and Andres Soriano of the Makati RTC; DOJ Undersecretary Leah Tanodra-Armamento and Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III; and Assistant Solicitor General Marissa Macaraig Guillen.

The appointment came amidst controversy due to the failure of President Aquino to meet the 90-day period prescribed under the Constitution for him to make the appointment from submission of the shortlist by the Judicial and Bar Council last Feb. 28.

The President signed the appointment paper last June 20 or over 120 days after the shortlist was submitted and some eight months since the post became vacant.