Noy names new appointees; Sandigan posts still vacant

MANILA, Philippines – Six months before his term ends, President Aquino made last-minute appointments to several agencies but has yet to name associate justices for the six Sandiganbayan posts.

The Judicial and Bar Council has provided Aquino a total of 18 candidates or a shortlist of nine nominees for the two new divisions of the anti-graft court created by Congress.

Each division will be comprised of three associate justices.

Only three justices sit in every division of the anti-graft court.

Former chief presidential legal counsel and now Justice Secretary Benjamin Caguioa is expected to replace Supreme Court (SC) Justice Martin Villarama, who opted for early retirement due to health reasons.

Villarama’s lawyer son, who serves as his chief of staff, was assured by Aquino of a post in the regional trial court.

Caguioa’s expected appointment to the high tribunal would bring to six Aquino’s appointees to the SC.

Among Aquino’s appointees to the high court are Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Bienvenido Reyes, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and former solicitor general Francis Jardeleza.

New appointees

Aquino named Maricar Montano as undersecretary of the Department of Justice, replacing Jose Justiniano who resigned after he was not appointed secretary.

Montano will serve in a coterminous capacity with Aquino or until June 2016.

 Monica Pagunsan, Adonis Sulit, Edward Alfonso, Miguel Romualdo Sanidad and Ma. Cecille Corpuz were appointed as DOJ assistant secretaries.

The President designated Reggie Boiser Ramos as undersecretary at the Department of Transportation and Communications, replacing Jose Perpetuo Lotilla.

Patrick Joseph Javier was designated as member of the fishery industry, board of directors of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority under the Department of Agriculture headed by Secretary Proceso Alcala. 

Javier replaced Eduardo Chu and will stay for the next six months.

At the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Florante Ocular Perez was designated as member of the National Wages and Productivity Commission, representing the workers sector in the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, vice Rolando Dahang.

Lucila Castillo-Tarriela was designated as member of the DOLE’s National Wages and Productivity Commission, representing the employers’ sector.

 Ameurfina Dumlao-Santos was appointed as member of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology. Her term expires in January 2017.

Ernesto Santos Gregorio Jr. was appointed Director IV of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Rolando Espinosa Peña as chairman of the Professional Regulation Commission’s Board of Geology, while Elmer Bandayrel Billedo was designated as member.

Peña and Billedo will have a fixed term of three years.

Ireneo Vigonte Vizmonte was appointed assistant secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, replacing Maria Lourdes Baua. Corazon Ignacio Flores was designated Director III at the Department of Health.