Noy names 4 new CA justices

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has named four new justices of the Court of Appeals (CA).

They are Marikina Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig, Makati RTC Judge Perpetua Atal-Pano, Manila RTC Judge Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, and lawyer Gabriel Robeniol.

Their names are contained in transmittal letters signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and received by the Supreme Court last week.

Macaraig was a Judicial Excellence Awardee during her stint at the RTC Branch 192, Marikina City wherein she received the Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Award in 2012.

Atal-Pano was an SC lawyer before being appointed in his previous post as judge.

Robeniol is a professor of the University of Santo Tomas College of Law.

 Roxas was affiliated with the Carpio Villaraza Cruz law offices.

The vacancies are in CA Manila. But because of the seniority rule, all four new CA justices will be assigned in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) earlier shortlisted 14 names for the four vacancies in the CA left by the retirement of Associate Justices Rebecca de Guia-Salvador, Abdulwahid Hakim, Michael Elbinias and Isaias Dicdican.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno chairs the seven-man council that the Constitution mandates to screen and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman.

 Ex-officio members are Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas and Justice Secretary Benjamin Caguioa.

Retired SC Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez is the head of the Executive Committee and represents the retired SC justice sector.

 Lawyer Jose Mejia representing the Academe, retired C A Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman representing the private sector, lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines are the other regular members of the JBC.