Three Cebu lawyers, two prosecutors and a clerk of court were among the 24 new judges recently appointed by President Benigno Aquino III.
Lawyers Dakila Dante Barcenas, Yvonne Cabaron Artiaga, and Ferdinand Rafanan were named judges of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branch 2 in Cebu City, MTCC Branch 3, and the Regional Trial Court Branch 55 in Mandaue City respectively.
Grace Veloso-Fernandez, clerk of court of RTC 18, will assume her new post as judge of MTCC Branch 8.
Cebu City Asst. Prosecutors Ricky Jones Macabaya and Jose Nathaniel Andal were appointed judges of RTC Branch 5 in Cebu City and RTC Branch 24 respectively.
Barcenas, Artiaga, and Fernandez will take over the positions left by dismissed MTCC Judges Anatalio Necessario of Branch 2, Judge Gil Acosta of Branch 3, and Edgemelo Rosales of Branch 8.
No impediments
Necessario, Acosta, and Rosales were dismissed by the High Court in April 2013 after they were found guilty for solemnizing marriages despite some irregularities that include the lack of licenses or the absence of proof from some foreigners that they faced no impediments.
Macabaya, on the other hand, will assume the post left by the late Judge Douglas Marigomen who died in February 2013.
Andal shall take over RTC Branch 24 that used to be presided by Judge Olegario Sarmiento who retired in September 2012.
Rafanan will sit as judge of RTC 55 in Mandaue City which has been vacant since Judge Ulric Cañete opted for an early retirement in May 2010.
The appointment of judges will help expedite the resolution of pending cases.
The Cebu City RTC still has five vacant courts following the retirement of Judges Simeon Dumdum Jr., Silvestre Maamo, Enriquita Belarmino, Eric Menchavez, and Meinrado Paredes.
The High Court designated acting judges to temporarily act on cases filed before these five courts.
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