Madrigal backs Aquino’s call to restore trust in judiciary

Former Sen. Jamby Madrigal. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Former Sen. Jamby Madrigal on Monday joined President Benigno Aquino in calling for restoring public trust and confidence in the judiciary.

At the sideline of the Judicial Excellence ceremony at the Manila Hotel, Madrigal said the awards should continue setting the example and inspire more judges, prosecutors and court employees to work for restoring public trust in the courts.

She said her father, a law school classmate and friend of the late Justice Jose Feria, was among the original supporters of the Judicial Excellence awards.

“The family continues to support this to honor the legacy of my grandfather, Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, the only Chief Justice who is a hero and martyr,” Madrigal said.

The Judicial Excellence awards are given to men and women of the court who have shown high level of integrity and competence in their work. The honor also inspires them to be shining examples of people in the judiciary who have remained true to their calling, she said.

This year’s awardees include Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 7 Presiding Judge Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta (Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano Award for Outstanding Regional Trial Court Judge); Marikina City RTC Branch 192 Presiding Judge Geralding Fiel-Macaraig (Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos Award for Outstanding Regional Trial Court Judge); Zamboanga City RTC Branch 12 Presiding Judge Gregorio V. Dela Pena (Chief Justice Ramon Avancena Award for Outstanding RTC Judge); Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 20 Presiding Judge Emily San Gaspar-Gito (Antonio P. Madrigal Award for Outstanding Metropolitan Trial Court Judge) and Ma. Christine Imperial-Bernarte, Branch Clerk of Court Naga City RTC Branch 24. Tetch Torres, INQUIRER.net