Aquino reappoints Fernan-Cayosa to JBC

President Aquino has reappointed lawyer Ma. Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, the daughter of late Chief Justice and Senate President Marcelo Fernan, to a second term as member of the Judicial and Bar Council.

Aquino, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, sent Cayosa’s appointment paper to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Cereno, JBC ex-officio chair, Monday last week. A copy of the transmittal letter was obtained by the media last Friday.

“By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office, furnishing this Office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office,” the letter stated.

Although Cayosa can immediately assume office, she will have to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments to make her designation permanent.

Cayosa’s first four-year term as JBC member, representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, expired last July 8. Her new term is dated from July 9, 2015.

According to the JBC and IBP websites, Cayosa graduated with a degree in psychology at the University of the Philippines in 1984, finished her doctorate in jurisprudence at Ateneo de Manila University in 1994, and passed the bar the following year. She once served as an IBP governor for Northern Luzon and an IBP Cagayan chapter president.

A specialist in corporate, labor, and family law, Cayosa is married to lawyer Domingo Egon Cayosa, a civic leader, environmentalist, and human rights advocate who is based in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The couple has four children.

The JBC is a constitutional body mandated to screen and come up with nominees to vacant posts in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, offices of the Ombudsman and his deputies, and other lower courts.

Other regular members of the JBC are retired Supreme Court Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, lawyer Jose Mejia, representing the academe; and retired appeals justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman, representing the private sector.

The ex officio members are Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, who represent Congress; and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, representing the executive branch.