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MANILA, Philippines - Three lower court judges have been appointed by President Aquino as justices of the Court of Appeals (CA).
Appointed as CA justices were Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judges Marie Christine Jacob and Henri Jean Paul Inting and Iligan RTC Judge Oscar Badelles.
A one-page transmittal letter, dated Sept. 18, 2012, was sent by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno regarding the appointment of the new CA justices.
The appointment was made due to the retirement of CA Justices Josefina Guevarra-Salonga, Juan Enriquez and Antonio Villamor.
Jacob has handled the tax evasion cases of former presidential son and Ang Galing party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo and his wife Angela.
Final list
Meanwhile, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) yesterday released the final list of applicants and recommendees for the position of associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Five other names were added to the list earlier released by the JBC: Court of Appeals associate justices Jose Reyes Jr. and Rosemarie Carandang, Judge Florentino Floro Jr.; lawyer Joe-Santos Bisquera, a university professor and dean; and Sandiganbayan associate justice Maria Cristina Cornejo.
According to the JBC, all candidates are still subject to the screening process of the council.
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