SC names replacement for slain Pasay judge

An acting judge has been appointed to fill in the vacant post left by slain Pasay Judge Henrick Gingoyon at Branch 117 of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Lawyer Mary Jemelle Obispo, clerk of court of Branch 117, said the Supreme Court (SC) has assigned Judge Jesus Mupas to replace Gingoyon to hear cases at the said branch.

"In a one-page memorandum signed by Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, Judge Mupas was officially appointed as replacement for Judge Gingoyon and will handle cases pending at Branch 117," Obispo said in an interview.

"We are glad that a new judge will finally attend to the cases, especially the urgent ones, left unattended because of the death of Judge Gingoyon," Obispo said.

The appointment takes effect immediately and he will serve until such time a regular judge is designated by the SC.

Last Dec. 31, Gingoyon was shot dead while he was walking to his house in Soldiers Hills Village in Barangay Molino, Bacoor Cavite.

Gingoyon was the judge who ordered the government to pay P3 billion to the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) in the takeover of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.