President Duterte has appointed two associate justices of the Court of Appeals (CA), the country’s second highest court.
Appointed where Eleuterio Larisma Bathan and John Zurbito Lee. Bathan took over the posts vacated in the CA by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao who was promoted to the Supreme Court (SC) on July 2, 2021, while Lee was replacement for Associate Justice Dorothy P. Montejo Gonzaga who resigned on Nov. 3, 2021.
Prior to their CA appointments, Bathan was a judge of the regional trial court in Quezon City, while Lee was managing partner of a law firm.
Their appointments were transmitted by the Office of the President to Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.
There are still two vacancies in the CA. These posts were those left with the retirement of Associate Justice Gabriel T. Ingles on Feb. 27, 2022 and the retirement of Associate Justice Edgardo A. Camello today, May 19.
At the Court of Tax Appeals, there would be a vacancy on June 24 with the retirement of Associate Justice Juanito C. Castaneda Jr.
Last Wednesday, the President also appointed CA Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh as the 15th SC justice. Justice Singh took her oath of office before Chief Justice Gesmundo on the day she was appointed.