MANILA, Philippines – The newly appointed 174th associate justice of the Supreme Court (SC), former Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, will not yet participate in the oral arguments on the disqualification cases against presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe, slated on Tuesday afternoon.
SC Clerk of Court Felipa Anama said Caguioa filed for a “wellness leave” which will take effect until February 16.
Every magistrate is allowed to avail a “wellness leave” once a year.
Due to this, Caguioa will not only miss Poe’s oral arguments but also will not be able to participate in the SC’s fourth regular en banc session this year.
He will not be included in the next two regular en banc sessions on February 9 and 16.
Caguioa, the fifth appointed in SC by his former classmate, President Benigno Aquino III, replaced the vacated post of retired Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr. He took his oath before Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno on January 27.
He is expected to report to work on February 17.
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