SC cites 4 judges, clerk of court for judicial excellence

MANILA, Philippines - Four judges and a clerk of court were given judicial excellence awards (JEA) by the Supreme Court yesterday for their exemplary service in the judiciary.

This as former senator Jamby Madrigal lauded efforts of the Aquino administration to restore public trust in and integrity of the high court.

Madrigal is the granddaughter of the late former chief justice Jose Abad Santos, one of the judicial icons honored in the awards.

The JEA also gives out the Don Antonio P. Madrigal award to honor the former senator’s father who died in 2006 and was among the original supporters of the awards.

Madrigal conferred the Abad Santos and Madrigal awards in ceremonies at the historic Manila Hotel.

“The judicial excellence awards have gained more meaning by giving honor to a new generation of honest and trustworthy judges, prosecutors and court employees to help bring back the dignity of the judiciary,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the event.

“The family continues to support this to honor the legacy of my grandfather, chief justice Jose Abad Santos, the only chief justice who is a hero and martyr,” she said.

This year’s awardees in the second-level courts category are Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 Judge Maria Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta (Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano Awardee), Marikina RTC Branch 192 Judge Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig (Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Awardee), Zamboanga RTC Branch 12 Judge Gregorio de la Pea (Chief Justice Ramon Avancea Awardee) and Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 20 Judge Emily San Gaspar-Gito (Don Antonio P. Madrigal Awardee).

They were chosen by a special board of judges chaired by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. Members of the panel were retired Justice Bernardo Pardo, SC Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, retired Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Philippine Judicial Academy Chancellor Adolfo Azcuna, lawyer Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa of the Judicial and Bar Council, Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Roan Libarios, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Law dean Ernesto Maceda Jr.

The judicial excellence awards are given to officers of the court who have shown high level of integrity and competence in their work.

The honor also inspires them to be shining examples of people in the judiciary who have remained true to their calling.

Aside from the Abad Santos-Madrigal family, the JEA is supported by the BPI Foundation, Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp., Meralco Foundation, Mariwasa Manufacturing Corp., Nestle Philippines, GMA Foundation, Senator Ambrosio Padilla Foundation, AY Foundation and Emilio Yap.