USJR asst. law dean is new IBP Cebu City head

CEBU, Philippines - The Integrated Bar of the Philippines chapters for Cebu City and Cebu Province elected new officers to lead the organization yesterday at the sala of Judge Alexander Acosta in Regional Trial Court Branch 9.

Mae Elaine Bathan, assistant dean of the University of San Jose Recoletos School of Law was proclaimed as new president of the Cebu City Chapter replacing Earl Bonachita. For the Cebu Province, Erwin Rommel Heyrosa was proclaimed as the new president replacing Ferdinand “Bong” Pepito Jr.

The two newly proclaimed presidents were elected in 2011 as vice presidents. They both ran uncontested for the elections this year.

“We intend to intensify legal aid programs, membership benefits like health and medical care, strengthen membership ties, interactive website, tie up with law school and different law organizations and better relations with Bench and Bar,” Bathan said when she was asked about her programs.

The IBP Cebu City Chapter has a total membership of around 1,800 but only 899 are qualified to vote, according to Bonachita. Of that number only 196 lawyers cast their votes

Other new elected officers for the Cebu City Chapter were Hidelito Pascual as vice-president, Leslie Reyes as secretary, Christine Naranjo as treasurer, Piedad Gonzales as auditor and Fillmore Gomos as press relation officer.

The new board of directors is composed of Glenn Capanas, Chad Miel, Mark Anthony Gaviola, Perpetua Socorro Belarmino and Michelle Palmares.

For Cebu Province, Pepito said they have a total membership of almost 1,000 but only 672 are qualified to vote. Out of the qualified voters only 107 lawyers cast their votes.

The officers for the Cebu Province Chapter are Gonzalo Malig-on Jr. as vice president, Orpha Arendain as secretary, Angelito Ortiz as treasurer,  Winefredo Orculo as auditor and Mundlyn Misal-Martin as press relations officer.

The newly elected board of directors  for the province is composed of Ria Lidia Espina, Jarred Cabilte, Virginia Redelosa Jr., Leilani Trinidad Villarino and Janice Monterola.

The new set of officers will start their term on Apr. 1, 2013 until Mar. 31, 2015.  (FREEMAN)