When the Americans occupied the Philippines they created an office to support the regular courts aside from the judges of the Court of First Instance and Municipal Courts. They called it JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The Justices of the Peace, did not necessarily have to be members of the Bar called lawyers but those designated have to be government employees of good moral character. Justices of the Peace were designated to assist the functions of the regular judges.
The practice of appointing justices of the peace started in 1917, and this was adopted even after the Americans declared independence to the Philippines in 1946. As years passed majority of those appointed were lawyers. On April 30, 1957, Vice President Carlos P. Garcia who assumed the Presidency after the death of President Ramon Magsaysay appointed the following as Justices of the Peace in the Province of Cebu: Miss Pacita Jabagat, Justice of the Peace of Alegria, Cebu. (from Ginatilan, admitted to the Bar in 1941) Vicente Requilme, Justice of the Peace of Barili, Cebu. Santiago Medida, Justice of the Peace of Boljoon, Cebu (admitted to the Bar on May 16, 1950) Eusebio Arnoco, Justice of the Peace of Borbon, Cebu. Celso Mundo, Justice of the Peace of Catmon, Cebu. (originally from Borbon, admitted to the Bar on January 31, 1955) Washington Ponce, Justice of the Peace of Cordova, Cebu. (from Opon, now Lapulapu, admitted to the Bar on December 25, 1961) Alberto Fernandez, Justice of the Peace of Liloan, Cebu. (from Bantayan, Cebu, admitted to the Bar on January 25, 1952) Marcelino Escalona, Justice of the Peace of Madridejos, Cebu. (from Bantayan, admitted to the Bar on May 9, 1953) Filomeno Enriquez, Justice of the Peace of Minglanilla, Cebu. (from Carcar, admitted to the Bar on May 11, 1949)
Antonio Platon, Justice of the Peace of Moalboal, Cebu. Jose Manulat, Justice of the Peace of Poro, Cebu.(from Danao, admitted to the Bar February 17, 1955) Numeriano Carreon, Justice of the Peace of Ronda, Cebu. Celerino Jomuad, Justice of the Peace of Samboan, Cebu. (from Ginatilan, admitted to the Bar May 2, 1947) Miss Caridad Sarmiento, Justice of the Peace of San Fernando, Cebu. (from Carcar, admitted to the Bar on April 14, 1953) Crispin Menchavez, Justice of the Peace of Santa Fe, Cebu. (from Sogod, admitted to the Bar on January 25, 1952) Woodrow Kintanar, Justice of the Peace of Sibonga, Cebu. (from Malabuyoc, admitted to the Bar on March 2, 1956) Lucio Rodriguez, Justice of the Peace of Tabogon, Cebu.(admitted to the Bar in 1941) Vicente Bornia, Justice of the Peace of Tuburan, Cebu. (from Tuburan, admitted to the Bar on January 25, 1952) On the same day, Mrs. Felicisima Yray was appointed Vice Mayor of Danao, Cebu.