Aquino appoints new Makati chief prosecutor

President Aquino has appointed Jorge Galvez Catalan Jr. the new Makati City chief prosecutor following the retirement of Filemon Aspi.

The 57-year-old Catalan, accompanied by his daughter Janine and son Juan Jorge, took his oath in front of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Prosecutor General Claro A. Arellano.

“It’s an honor to be appointed as the new city prosecutor of Makati. I’m very thankful to President Aquino for his trust and confidence, and also to Secretary De Lima,” he said. “My experience as city prosecutor of Malabon-Navotas will help me in my quest to do a better job in this new challenge in my career.”

Before he assumed his new post, Catalan served for a long time as Malabon-Navotas city prosecutor following his appointment in July 2001. Born in Matang Tubig in Tondo, Manila, Catalan rose from the ranks at the Department of Justice where he started as a prosecution lawyer in 1987.

Two years later, he became a full-fledged prosecutor when he was appointed state prosecutor I. His promotion to state prosecutor II came in 1991. Catalan was detailed in Caloocan City (1990-1994), Malabon-Navotas (1994-1998) and Quezon City (1998-2001) where he served as one of the reviewers and as special assistant of then City Prosecutor Arellano, now the prosecutor general.

Catalan is a graduate of San Beda College of Law.