Marcos Jr. names 3 new CA associate justices

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has named three new associate justices of the Court of Appeals (CA), including a trade official and a daughter of his former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced the appointment of Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty, Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 198 Judge Pia Cristina Bersamin-Embuscado and Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 294 Judge Leilani Marie Dacanay-Grimares to the 69-person appellate court.

“Their appointments reinforce the judiciary and support the administration of justice in the country,” the PCO said in a Facebook post published on Wednesday night.

Prior to his appointment to the CA, Gepty was an undersecretary of the trade department who oversaw its Bureau of International Trade Relations, the Strategic Trade Management Office and the Philippine International Trading Corporation.

He served as the Philippines’ top trade negotiator on various deals, including the Philippines-European Union Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Other posts that he handled were chair of the ASEAN High-Level Task Force on Economic Integration, commissioner of the Philippine Tariff Commission, deputy and director general of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

The trade official turned CA associate justice finished his commerce degree major in economics from the University of Santo Tomas, his law degree from San Beda College and Master of Laws from UST.

Embuscado served as presiding judge of the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 198. She is the eldest daughter of former chief justice Lucas Bersamin, Marcos’ executive secretary from September 2022 to May 2025. 
Embuscado finished her communication research degree from the University of the Philippines and her law degree from UST Faculty of Civil Law.  In 2003, she worked as the chief of staff of her father, who was then an

associate justice of the CA. After passing the 2004 Bar exams, she joined the law firm of Roberto Abad as a litigation associate.
Embuscado also served as a legal researcher, court attorney and judicial staff head of her father at the Supreme Court. She was appointed regional trial court judge in 2018.

Grimares was the presiding judge of the Parañaque Regional Trial Court Branch 294. She completed her master’s and doctorate law degrees at UST. The newly appointed justice of the appellate court also teaches at the

UST Faculty of Civil Law.

Next SC associate Justice

eNineteen top officials from the judiciary and various government agencies were named as aspirants for the position to be vacated by outgoing Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier.

The list of candidates included justices from the Court of Appeals, the Court of Tax Appeals and the Sandiganbayan, as well as high-ranking officials of executive agencies and independent commissions. – Ghio Ong