SC settles row over Sandigan division chairmanship

MANILA, Philippines - Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang will chair the Third Division of the Sandiganbayan on orders of the Supreme Court (SC).

SC spokesman Theodore Te said SC justices have ordered Associate Justice Jose Hernandez to vacate the post.

The SC had acted on Tang’s five-page letter to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno last Oct. 10 seeking guidance on the confusion on chairmanship of the Third Division as a result of the proposed Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan, particularly Section 5(a).

Last June 8, Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr. retired as presiding justice of the anti-graft court.

Prior to his retirement, he was chairman of the court’s Third Division.

Hernandez then assumed chairmanship of the division.

When Tang was named presiding justice last Oct. 1, she wanted to assume the chairmanship of the Third Division.

But Hernandez, a senior magistrate, refused to relinquish the post.

He said he has become permanent chairman of the division under Section 5(a), Rule II of the Revised Internal Rules of the anti-graft court.