President Aquino Names 7 New Judges for the Provinces

Manila (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed seven new judges for the provinces of Pangasinan, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac.

This was contained in two separate transmittal letters sent to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. Aranal Sereno by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. which said that President Aquino has appointed new judges.

“I am pleased to transmit herewith the appointment letters of the following signed by His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III,” the transmittal letter signed by Ochoa said.

In the transmittal letter of the Office of the President (OP) to the SC dated July 14, 2015, the new judges who were appointed will be assigned in the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) of the aforementioned provinces.

The newly-appointed judges are Junius Fernandez Dalaten who will be assigned at the RTC Branch 50 in Villasis, Pangasinan.

Judge Antonio Ray Abello Ortiguerra will be assigned at the RTC Branch 2 in Balanga City, Bataan.

Judge Jonathan Moslares for the RTC Branch 6 in Malolos City, Bulacan, as well as Judge Maria Cristina Galang Laderas for Branch 85 of the same area.

Judge Leo Cecilio Domingo Bautista was appointed at the RTC Branch 38 of San Jose, Nueva Ecija while Judge Robert Alexander Razon Malig will be assigned at the RTC Branch 45 in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

The last appointee for this batch is Judge Bernar Dungo Fajardo who will be assigned at the Branch 67 in Paniqui, Tarlac.

The appointees were screened by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) prior to their appointments.

The JBC is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees to the President for vacant posts in the Judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman).

It is chaired by Chief Justice Sereno, with ex-officio members, namely Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, Jr. and Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima.

Retired SC Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez is the head of the Executive Committee and represents the Retired SC Associate Justice Sector; Atty. Jose V. Mejia representing the Academe, retired Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman representing the private sector and Atty. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) are the other regular members of the JBC. (PNA) CTB/PTR