Palace beats deadline, appoints 11 new judges, 321 prosecutors

Malacañang has appointed 11 new judges and 321 prosecutors ahead of the election ban.

In a transmittal letter dated March 7, 2016 received by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on March 8, 2016, newly appointed justices shall occupy positions in Metro Manila.

Appointed are Judge Rosalia I. Hipolito-Bunagan for Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 232, Judge Rhoda Magdalene L. Mapile-Osinada for Malabon City RTC Branch 289, Judge Rosario G. Ines-Pinzon for  Malabon City RTC Branch 290 and Judge Ma. Antonia L. Largoza-Cantero for Malabon RTC Branch 291.

Other appointees are Judge Anthony B. Fama for Mandaluyong City RTC Branch 277, Judge Jaime Fortunato A. Caringal for Mandaluyong RTC Branch 278, Judge Juliet M. Manalo-San Gaspar for Mandaluyong RTC Branch 279, Judge Restituto V. Mangalindan Jr. for Mandaluyong RTC Branch 280, Judge J. Ermin Ernest Louie Miguel for Mandaluyong RTC Branch 281, Judge Juris S. Dilinila-Callanta for Quezon City RTC Branch 85 and Judge Orven Kuan Ontalan for Valenzuela City RTC Branch 285.

The Palace also appointed and promoted 321 state, regional, provincial and city prosecutors in regions 1-13, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The transmittal letter dated March 8 was sent by Malacañang to Justice Secretary Emmanuel Caparas.

Malacañang’s appointment came 16 days before the start of the appointment ban on March 25, 2016.

Under Comelec Resolution 10030, appointment or hiring of new employees in any national, local government office, agency or instrumentality including government-owned or controlled corporations shall be prohibited  from March 25 to May 8, 2016 or exactly 45 days before elections.

The same resolution, however, has given continuing authority to the president of the Philippines, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, lower courts; Senate Electoral Tribunal, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to hire and appoint new employees from March 25 to May 8.

However, under Section 15, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution provides that “two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, a President or acting President shall not make appointments, except temporary appointments to executive positions when continued vacancies therein will prejudice public service or endanger public safety.”