President Duterte has appointed 20 trial courts judges for the regional trial courts (RTCs), municipal trial courts, and municipal trial courts in cities (MTCCs).

Their appointment papers from Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea were received by the office of Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta on Tuesday.
The lone appointee to the MTC in Taytay, Rizal was Judge Ralph David D. So.
Appointed for RTCs were Judges Jose Ricuerdo P. Flores, Tanauan, Batangas; Leo Jon P. Ramos, Lipa City; Ethel R. Andico Malabanan, Cavite City; Rosalinda E. Beltran Kawada, Bacoor City; Gilbert G. Gordove and Ronaldo G. Tugonon, San Pablo City; Eileen D. Lim, Salvador C. Villarosa Jr. and Janice L. Andrade Udarbe, Lucena City;
Rebecca Ramas De Guzman, Binangonan in Rizal; Banuar Reuben A. Falcon, Antipolo City; Charity Grace A. Rico, Calapan City; Dante R. Corminal, Cebu City; Irene T Pontejos, Tacloban City; Francis L. Rafil, Butuan City; and Nanette Gustilo Lemana, Davao City.
Appointed for MTCCs were Judges Mary Ann Charisma C. Gutierrez Kho, Bacoor City; and January Faye L. Risonar Bello; and Janice A. Aspiras Pepito, Davao City.
It was not known immediately how many vacancies there are in the appellate courts and the trial courts.
In the 15-member Supreme Court (SC), there is a lone vacancy that was left with the disability retirement last year of Associate Justice Priscilla J. Baltazar Padilla.
The replacement to Padilla’s post has yet to be named by the President.
Another SC vacancy is coming up with the early retirement on March 27 of Chief Justice Peralta.