Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo assured trial court judges of the Supreme Court’s (SC) protection against “warrantless charges,” but warned of severe sanctions “for any shortcomings or misbehavior, or any violation committed with respect to one’s constitutional mandate.”
As “frontliners’ of the judiciary, trial court judges were encouraged by Gesmundo to focus on adjudication of cases and “ensure that those transacting with the courts are fully satisfied.”
Gesmundo administered the oaths to new judges appointed recently by President Marcos.
He reminded the judges to be extra careful of their actions “especially during these times when social media can make or break someone’s reputation.”
“Pakaingatan ninyo ang inyong mga pangalan at posisyon at pagganap sa tungkulin. Maging halimbawa kayo sa komunidad kung saan kayo maa-assign…. Lahat ng kilos ninyo ay napupuna lalo na sa panahon ng social media (Take good care of your names and positions and the way you dispense your duties. You should be the good examples in the communities where you are assigned. All your actuations are under scrutiny these times of social media),” he said.
He also told the judges to faithfully adhere to the Code of Judicial Conduct which “governs how we behave as members of the judiciary.”
The code is under review to make it more responsive to the changing times, he said. “Kasama dyan kung paano tayo mag-social media (included in the review is how we use social media), he also said.
“You should be able to know what you are posting—is it a personal posting or as a judge. You must be able to distinguish that,” he said.
He noted that last April, the SC launched the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA), which, among others, “tackles the use of social media, formation and definition of the lawyer-client relationship, conduct of non-legal staff, among other intricacies experienced by practitioners today.”
At the same time, the Chief Justice urged the judges to embrace technology in support of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI), the SC’s blueprint of action for judicial reforms.
He pointed out that the SC “will maximize the use of technology” on its judicial reform projects. The SPJI, he said, “is a work in progress.”
Those who took their oaths of office were Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Cristina V. Astudillo (RTC, Branch 58, Bucay, Abra); Judge Allan C. Lobo (RTC, Branch 59, Lucena City, Quezon); Judge Julius Francis R. Galvez (RTC, Branch 96, Catanauan, Quezon); Judge Crystal Dei L. Embido-Buenaventura (RTC, Branch 13, Basco, Batanes); Judge Nikki Rose Dela Peña Esperanza (RTC, Branch 114, Bacoor City, Cavite), and Judge Kristine Ria N. Cirilo (RTC, Branch 161, Morong, Rizal).
Also sworn in were Municipal Trial Court (MTC) Judge Vanessa L. Ilustrisimo-Fajardo (MTC, Calaca, Batangas); Judge Sharmagne Joy A. Binay (MTC, Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas); Judge Redeemer B. Faraon (MTC, Municipal Trial Court, Cuenca, Batangas); Judge Krisandra Ann D. Malaluan (MTC, Pagsanjan, Laguna); Judge Gisela Cecilia A. Mauhay-Valdez (MTC, Padre Garcia, Batangas);
Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Judge Rizalina E. Alcazar (MTCC, Branch 2, Batangas City, Batangas), Judge Anissa P. Apolinario-Bonquin (MTCC, Branch 2, Antipolo City, Rizal); Judge Francia M. Barbosa-Bianzon (MTCC, Branch 2, Lucena City Quezon); Judge Zenaida R. Razon-Olandesca (1st MCTC, Cuyo-AgutayaMagsaysay-Palawan)’
Judge Rose Camille C. Veneracion (2nd MCTC, Lubang-Looc, Mindoro Occidental); Judge Ralph Karlo B. Barcelona (MTC, Cainta, Rizal); Judge Lynette I. Espiritu-De Ungria (MTC, Candelaria, Quezon); Judge Beverly Anne F. Quintos (MTC, Pinamalayan, Mindoro Oriental); Judge Agustin Tomas C. Tria Tirona (MTC, Bongabong, Mindoro Oriental); Judge Ryan De Leon Ferraren (MTCC, Branch 4, City of Imus, Cavite);
Judge Jaime I. Cordez Jr. (MTCC, Branch 3, City of Imus, Cavite); Judge Carmela B. Nierva-Pitpit (MTCC, Branch 4, Dasmariñas City, Cavite); Judge Bryan Alphonso E. Perez (4th MCTC, Alfonso-General Aguinaldo, Cavite); Judge Z’sa May B. SubejanoPe Lim (MTCC, Branch 4, Antipolo City, Rizal); Judge Crisalyn B. Lumanglas (MTC, Sta. Cruz, Mindoro Occidental); and Judge Sonia Philipa M. Ricablanca-Pargas (MTC, Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental);
.
Judge Antonio O. Del Val (MTC, Tanza, Cavite); Judge Jillian Kristin A. Deveza-Macasaet (MTCC, Branch 1, Lipa City, Batangas); Judge Rose Jennifer A. De Joya (MTCC, Branch 1, Antipolo City, Rizal); Judge Hazel Angeline Q. Abenoja (MTCC, Biñan City, Laguna); Judge Ace Victor F. Risma (4th MCTC, Taytay-San Vicente, Palawan); Judge Jam Tristan L. Sulit (7th MCTC, Sta. Maria-Mabitac, Laguna);
Judge Ma. Jayra A. Cerapion-Tolentino (MTC, Morong, Rizal); Judge Analyn F. Banzuela (MTC, Tagkawayan, Quezon); Judge Shari-Christine San Juan Almario (1st MCTC, Luisana-Cavinti, Laguna); Judge Artemis Q. Badando (MTC, Pila, Laguna); and Judge Jose Jay E. Dela Chica (1st MCTC, San Teodoro-Baco-Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental).