Top nominee for CA vacancy opposed

MANILA, Philippines - The nomination of a judge topping the shortlist for the post of associate justice in the Court of Appeals (CA) is being opposed on grounds of her alleged lack of competence and integrity, and for being morally/ethically unfit.

The post became vacant after   the retirement of Associate Justice Rosalinda Asuncion-Vicente on Nov. 23 last year.

Last Jan. 23, a group of 10  gardeners, mechanics and animal caretakers informed the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) about an administrative case against Quezon City   Regional Trial Court Judge Maria Filomena Singh before the Supreme Court over a questionable search warrant that she had issued.

Led by one Jimmy Castanos, the group accused Singh of gross ignorance of the law and procedure for her issuance of a warrant that the Bago City, Negros Occidental Regional Trial Court later quashed for bring illegal and in violation of the Constitution.

“I would not want to imagine the abuses she will commit if she is appointed to the Court of Appeals,” Castanos said.

In a copy of the opposition obtained by The STAR, the group also accused Singh of gross misconduct and undue delay in resolving a motion to quash warrant.

In their complaint against Singh before the SC last Jan. 14, the group assailed the April 23, 2013 search warrant   for a police operation when the affidavit on which the order was based was executed in Bacolod City the day after she issued the order.