Judge Catalina Fernandez Monterroyo, San Remegio, Cebu
Catalina Fernandez-Monterroyo became a lawyer on February 15, 1954. Two years after passing the bar she was appointed by President Ramon Magsaysay as Justice of the Peace of San Remegio, Cebu on July 31, 1956.
On August 31, 1971 President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos signed Administrative Order No. 308, exonerating Municipal Judge Catalina F. Monterroyo of San Remegio, Cebu.
The administrative case against Judge Monterroyo for grave abuse of discretion, oppression, and gross ignorance of the law was filed by a policeman. The chief of police of San Remegio filed on August 1, 1967 a case of Slight Physical Injuries which the court took cognizance and the policeman was suspended while the case was pending.
The policeman then filed a case against Judge Monterroyo. The case was then formally investigated by Executive Judge Guillermo P. Villasor of the Court of First Instance of Cebu who found respondent-judge not guilty of the charges and recommended her exoneration, in which the Secretary of Justice concurred.
The policeman alleged that Judge Monterroyo violated the Rules of Court and also claimed that this was her act because the Private Prosecutor of the Physical Injuries case against him, Atty. Gerardo S. Pepito, was the mayoralty candidate and running mate of her husband under the LP banner during the 1967 elections, and that he (policeman/complainant) was appointed by the incumbent mayor.
The complainant/policeman was represented in his criminal case by Atty. Teodoro Cabilan. Judge Monterroyo decided the case on February 22, 1968. President Marcos upon review of the case against Judge Monterroyo found out that the allegations that Judge Monterroyo should have disqualified herself in hearing the case because of the political relationship of the Private Prosecutor (Atty. Pepito) and her husband is not a legal ground for inhibition. In fact, the husband of Judge Monterroyo ran under the Nacionalista Party while Atty. Pepito ran under the Liberal Party.
San Remegio was used to be called as "Kanghagas," which used to be a barrio of Bogo. The present name was coined from the name of a Spaniard soldier, who led them in defending the town from Moro raiders, his name was Remigio Moulton. In his honor, the word San was added, making the name of the town as San Remegio.
In 1965, the following were its officials: Ananias Ursal, mayor, Teodoro Cabilan, vice mayor, Ricardo Casel, municipal secretary, Cataline F. Monterroyo, judge, Sergio S. Sinadjan, treasurer, Telesforo Pestano, chief of police, Dra. Victorietta Ecarma, health officer. Councilors: Rafael Noval, Nicolas Demecillo, Vicente Pestano, Rafael Urcales, Joaquin Miscala, Eduardo Reyes, Ponciano Tulod, and Leon Cabahug.
Atty. Teodoro V. Cabilan was admitted to the Bar on March 9, 1957. He was fondly called as "Ondo Doring." He died on February 26, 2010. His sister, Ubana, married an Orcullo. Atty. Cabilan was one of the leaders of the Cabilan Clan.
Atty. Gerardo M. Pepito became a lawyer on May 6, 1958. He later became Presiding Judge of the Court of First Instance of Aklan. Another Pepito from San Remegio, Patrocinio T. Pepito, became a lawyer on March 19, 1966.
The Ursal's who became lawyers, were: Geodofredo F. Ursal (admitted to the Bar on September 3, 1953) and Yulando L. Ursal, although from Bogo has roots in San Remegio, he became a lawyer on April 26, 1989 and became a professor and Assistant Dean of the College of Law of the University of San Jose Recoletos. The Clerk of Court of RTC-Bogo, Rey D. Caayon, is from San Remegio (admitted to the Bar on April 16, 1996), he belongs to USJR College of Law Batch 1995.
The Novals of San Remegio who became lawyers were Eladio A. Noval (October 26, 1959) and Mesaila Noval-Harder (March 10, 1964).
- Latest
