MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed 11 new judges in various courts in Metro Manila.
In a one-page transmittal letter received by the office of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno last Friday, the new judges were assigned to metropolitan trial courts (MeTC) in Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Quezon City, Pasig City and Manila.
Appointed were Dorothy Grace Daguna-Inciong as judge of Caloocan MeTC Branch 52 and Ma. Lourdes Barrios-Sapalo as judge of Makati MeTC Branch 64.
Also in the list were Sheryll Dolendo Tulabing of Malabon City MeTC Branch 56 and Honorio Ebora Jr. of Pasig City MeTC Branch 71.
In Quezon City, two new MeTC judges were named: Ludmila de Pio Lim and Analie Oga Brual.
Five new judges were assigned to the Manila MeTC: Pagat Pagaling, Ihmie Michiko Gacad-Presto, Jerome Jimenez, Manuel Edgardo Tomacruz and Fricia Gomez-Guillen.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. signed the appointment paper on behalf of the President.
Prior to their appointments, the new judges were screened by the Judicial and Bar Council, the constitutional body tasked to vet nominees for posts in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman.
The seven-man council is chaired by Sereno, with Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima as ex-officio members.
The regular members are lawyer Jose Mejia, representing the academe; retired Court of Appeals Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman, representing the private sector; and lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. The council slot for representative of retired justices is vacant.