Judge in Carl, Kulot case gets Sandigan post

MANILA, Philippines — The Caloocan City judge, who dismissed the murder charges against two policemen tagged in the killings of teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman in supposed anti-drug operations, has been appointed to the Sandiganbayan by President Duterte.

Judge Georgina Dumpit Hidalgo of the Caloocan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 22 was appointed as Sandiganbayan associate justice, replacing Rodolfo Ponferrada.

Hidalgo’s appointment papers were dated Jan. 18 but released by Malacañang only yesterday.

On May 9, Hidalgo dismissed the murder charges against Police Officers 1 Ricky Arquilita and Jeffrey Perez for lack of jurisdiction.

The case was ordered re-filed before the Navotas court on technical grounds after a witness claimed that the murder of Arnaiz took place in Navotas and not in Caloocan.

The killings of Arnaiz and De Guzman as well as that of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos by Caloocan policemen drew public outrage.

Malacañang also released yesterday the appointment of  Emily Aliño-Geluz as associate justice of the Court of Appeals.

Geluz replaced Leoncia Dimagiba.

Duterte signed Geluz’s appointment papers on April 30. 

Geluz served as judge of the Imus Municipal Trial Court and Las Piñas City RTC.