Aquino names 3 new appeals court justices

MANILA, Philippines—There are three new justices in the Court of Appeals appointed by President Aquino.

Based on a transmittal letter from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno dated Sept. 18, the new appellate court justices are Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judges Marie Christine Jacob and Henri Jean-Paul Inting, and Iligan City RTC Judge Oscar Badelles.

The three replaced Justices Josefina Guevarra-Salonga, Juan Enriquez and Antonio Villamor who all retired.

Jacob is the judge in the tax-evasion case against Ang Galing party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his wife Angela.

Inting is trying the case of a Manila policeman charged with the murder of Norwegian national Mikael Troy Johansen Rasay in a bar brawl in Quezon City last year. In 2004, Inting acquitted the late rapper Francis Magalona of drug possession.

Inting will be joining his mother, Justice Socorro B. Inting, on the appellate court. She was appointed to the CA in 2009.

There is one other vacancy in the Court of Appeals following the death from a heart attack two weeks ago of Justice Abraham Borreta, a member of the 22nd Division based in Cagayan de Oro City.