Bulacan judge named to Sandigan

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has named Judge Oscar Herrera Jr. as justice of the Sandiganbayan, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Herrera was presiding judge of the Bulacan Regional Trial Court and has been a trial court judge for 17 years.

Herrera was a law professor for 24 years, teaching civil and remedial law, practice court and trial technique, law and values at the University of Sto. Tomas, San Beda College and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, he added.

Lacierda said Herrera was a recipient of the Centennial Award for Judicial Excellence in Central Luzon this year, awardee of the Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña Award for Judicial Excellence in 2003, and was the Dangal ng Bayan awardee in 2004.

Herrera had been endorsed 20 times by the Judicial and Bar Council and was included in the shortlist submitted to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but had always been bypassed, he added.

Herrera made it 12 times to the JBC shortlist – nine times for the Court of Appeals and three times for the Sandiganbayan, Lacierda added.