CEBU, Philippines — Cebuana Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Abracia Econg has been appointed as the presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan, the anti-graft court that handles cases involving government officials accused of corruption.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Econg’s appointment on January 7, as indicated in a document released by Malacañang. She takes over from Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, who retired from the judiciary on November 7, 2024.
Justice Econg previously served as presiding judge in Minglanilla, Cebu, and later as presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9 in Cebu City. Appointed as an associate justice of the Sandiganbayan in 2016, Econg chaired the Second Division of the anti-graft court.
Her extensive judicial career includes roles as judicial reform program administrator of the Supreme Court Program Management Office and chief of the Office of the Philippine Judicial Academy.
Econg, a proud alumna of the University of San Carlos, was also a nominee for Supreme Court associate justice in 2021. She is set to retire on August 6, 2037. — /FPL (FREEMAN)