6 new Sandigan justices take oath of office

CHIEF Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza Monday administered the oaths of office to the six newly appointed justices of the Sandiganbayan.

The new justices of the antigraft court are Bulacan Judge Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega, Palace undersecretaries Reynaldo Cruz and Michael Frederick Musngi, assistant solicitor general Karl Miranda, Cebu Judge Geraldine Faith Econg, and lawyer Zaldy Trepeses, Sereno’s protocol officer.

President Aquino selected the six from a list of 37 nominees submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council last October.

The new justices will comprise the two additional divisions of the Sandiganbayan, which were created by Republic Act No. 10660, or An Act Strengthening the Functional and Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan, that the President signed into law in April last year.

Under RA 10660, the antigraft court will now have seven divisions with three members each or a total of 21 justices.