Escudero's mom appointed member of UP Board of Regents

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed the mother of his perceived ally Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, replacing Magdaleno Albarracin Jr.

The term of Evelina Buencamino Guevarra-Escudero, 69, also the wife of incumbent Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III, will expire on Feb. 18, 2014, the President’s letter to the Commission on Higher Education has stated.

Escudero obtained her home economics degree, major in food and nutrition in 1964 and her doctor of philosophy in education from the same university.

She was assistant supervisor of the UP’s College of Home Economics Tearoom in 1964-65, president of UPAA Hostel and Canteen Services Inc. in 2008, and lecturer of the home economics college from 2006 to 2009.

Sen. Escudero does not belong to Aquino’s Liberal Party, but the two are close friends since they were colleagues at the House of Representatives for nine years that ended in 2007, when they were both elected senator.

Escudero was congressman for Sorsogon while Aquino represented Tarlac.

Other newly appointed officials include Judge Marlo Campanilla as presiding judge of the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 83 in Caloocan City.

Prior to this, Campanilla served as the 4th Manila assistant city prosecutor since 2002.

Judge Dennis Rafa was appointed to MTC Branch 84 in Caloocan City.

A graduate of Bachelor of Laws from the Manuel Luis Quezon University, Rafa served as Makati Prosecutor II since 2007 until his appointment to Caloocan MTC Branch 84.

Judge Michael Francisco was designated presiding judge of MTC Branch 85 in Caloocan City. He graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from UP and practiced in several private law firms.

Judge Lourdes Grace Barrientos-Sasondoncillo was also appointed to MTC Branch 86 Caloocan City. She worked as graft investigation and prosecution officer I in the Office of the Ombudsman.