Cebuano solons eye Hormachuelos for top CA post

Even before Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines made their individual endorsements, Cebuano legislators have already asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint Associate Justice Portia Hormachuelos as Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals.

Reps. Eduardo Gullas, Raul del Mar, Antonio Cuenco, Pablo Garcia, Pablo John Garcia, Benhur Salimbangon, Ramon “Red” Durano and Nerissa Soon-Ruiz sent Arroyo a letter last August asking her to decide in favor of Hormachuelos.

In their letter, the lawmakers said Hormachuelos’ track record in the judiciary, as well as her service record, training and achievement in the field of legal education “are remarkable proof of excellence considering the zero backlog in cases assigned to her.”

Before being appointed as CA Associate Justice, Hormachuelos had handled two branches of the Regional Trial Court.

“Her management prowess as evidenced by her being one of the Top Ten Master of Public Administration of the University of the Philippines and having trained in the United States with special emphasis on the administration of courts makes her a well-rounded candidate,” the legislators said.

They said appointing Hormachuelos to the highest post in the appellate court would be “the best reward for an outstanding legal personality.”

Both Garcia and the IBP-Cebu City Chapter have strongly endorsed Hormachuelos for the position, highlighting the Associate Justice’s competence, integrity and achievements in public service and judiciary.

In a resolution, the IBP has detailed Hormachuelos’ track record and awards as a public servant and achievements as a student from grade school until post-graduate studies.

Before being appointed as CA Associate Justice in 1995, Hormachuelos had served as counsel and Regional Chief Trial Attorney of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Probation Officer and State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice, and presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court branches in Argao and Cebu City.

The IBP said it was Hormachuelos’ outstanding track record in government that has earned her several awards, including the Cayetano Arellano Award for Judicial Excellence as Outstanding Regional Trial Court Judge in the Philippines in 1992; Top Five RTC Judges of Cebu in 1993; Alumni Achievement Award for Government Service from the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance in 2002; Outstanding Alumna in Law from the University of the Visayas in 1997 and 2000; and the Outstanding Alumna in the Field of Judicial Reforms and Legal Advocacy for Women from UP in 2004.

The IBP also cited the various academic honors Hormachuelos has reaped during her years as a student.

Garcia said Hormachuelos deserves the position “as Cebuano of unquestioned integrity, competence and knowledge of the law.”

Garcia also said Hormachuelos’ appointment “will certainly augur well for the efficient implementation of this administration’s justice system.” —  Joeberth M. Ocao/LPM