Aquino names new CA justice, DOTC undersecretary

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has appointed a justice at the appellate court and an undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Malacanang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a news briefing said that Roxas City Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge Edward Contreras was named as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals (CA) replacing Associate Justice Abraham Borreta.

Born in Panay, Capiz, Contreras obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1979 from the University of the Philippines-Iloilo. In 1987, he graduated Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sto. Tomas. He was admitted to the Bar in 1990.

His career in the Judiciary started when he worked as Pasig RTC court interpreter from 1984 to 1986. He served as the confidential assistant at the CA (1988 -1989) and court attorney at the Supreme Court (1990-1993).

Contreras was appointed as the provincial administrator of the Capiz Provincial Capitol from 1993 to 1997. He was designated as the Presiding Judge of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court from 1997 to 1999 and the Municipal Trial Court in Cities-Roxas City from 1999 to 2002

Contreras served as presiding judge of the Roxas City RTC Branch 17 since 2002 until he was named as CA Associate Justice. He taught corporation law at Filamer Christian College from 1996 to 1997 and administrative law at the Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion from 2001 to 2002.

The Chief Executive also appointed Julianito Bucayan Jr. as Transportation and Communications Undersecretary, co-terminus with the appointing authority.

He obtained the degree of Bachelor of Science in Applied Science (major in Operations Analysis) from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, United States of America (USA) in 1985 and Master of Science in Computer Science from the Ateneo Graduate School in 1995.

He worked as Division Head of the Information Systems Division, Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association (June 2008-June 2011), Department Head/Assistant Department Head, Management Information Systems Department, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-Retirement and Separation Benefits System (June 1998-May 2008), member of the Technical Working Group, Philippine Navy Modernization Board (September 1996-June 1998) and the Office of the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Intelligence, AFP-Philippine Navy (1993-1998).

He served as the vice president of Business Development, Philcox Philippines, Inc. from July 2011 until his appointment to the DOTC. (SDR/Sunnex)