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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 6 regional court managers assume posts

6 regional court managers assume posts

Published Feb 11, 2026 11:35 am
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (center) with the Regional Court Managers (RCMs) who took their oath of office last Feb. 9 at the Supreme Court (SC) session hall in Manila. (From left) Atty. Joevanni A. Villanueva, 3rd judicial region; Atty. Maria Alma Corazon H. Puncia, 1st judicial region; Atty. Maria Pamela S. Oliver, 8th judicial region; Atty. Kyrie Dea Maia G. Morente, 11th judicial region; Judge Michelle Ann T. Villahermosa-Gacutno, 7th judicial region; and Judge Janice Ivy G. Valparaiso-Chua, 10th judicial region. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (center) with the Regional Court Managers (RCMs) who took their oath of office last Feb. 9 at the Supreme Court (SC) session hall in Manila. (From left) Atty. Joevanni A. Villanueva, 3rd judicial region; Atty. Maria Alma Corazon H. Puncia, 1st judicial region; Atty. Maria Pamela S. Oliver, 8th judicial region; Atty. Kyrie Dea Maia G. Morente, 11th judicial region; Judge Michelle Ann T. Villahermosa-Gacutno, 7th judicial region; and Judge Janice Ivy G. Valparaiso-Chua, 10th judicial region. (Photo courtesy of the SC Communications Office)
Six regional court managers (RCMs) have assumed their posts to unburden trial court judges of administrative tasks and enhance the efficiency of the courts in resolving cases.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo administered the oath of office last Feb. 9 to RCMs Atty. Maria Alma Corazon H. Puncia, 1st judicial region; Atty. Joevanni A. Villanueva, 3rd judicial region; Judge Michelle Ann T. Villahermosa-Gacutno, 7th judicial region; Atty. Maria Pamela S. Oliver, 8th judicial region; Judge Janice Ivy G. Valparaiso-Chua, 10th Judicial Region; and Atty. Kyrie Dea Maia G. Morente, 11th judicial region.
They were appointed last Jan. 14 after serving as interim RCMs, the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson said in a press briefer.
Chief Justice Gesmundo said the setting up of the office of the RCM (ORCM) in the judicial regions will allow judges “to focus more on their primary duty of adjudication.”
Before the setting up of ORCMs, the SC exercises administrative supervision over all lower courts through the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA).
Under the old setup, “all court branches are reliant on their executive judges, and ultimately on the central office of the OCA for official administrative action.”
The modernization of OCA is under the five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI 2022-2027) to improve the delivery of administrative services to trial courts, the SC said.
It said that through the ORCMs, “the OCA will devolve some of its key functions to the regional court managers, who will be directly communicating with the court branches within the region, and vice-versa.”
It also said the ORCM “will be given the authority to sign off on administrative and fiscal matters and to deliver multiple services directly to the courts.”
Also present during the oath taking ceremony were Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta, Deputy Court Administrator (DCA) Lilian BarribalCo, DCA for Operations Leo T. Madrazo, En Banc Clerk of Court Atty. Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas, SC Second Division Clerk of Court Atty. Teresita A. Tuazon, and SC Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Administrative Officer Atty. Maria Carina A. Matamu-Cunanan.
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