Thursday, October 18, 2007 Garcia backs Cebuana as CA chief
GOV. Gwendolyn Garcia has recommended to President Arroyo Cebuana Justice Portia Hormachuelos as the next presiding justice of the Court of Appeals.
The position of the CA’s presiding justice has been left vacant by the appointment of Justice Ruben Reyes as an associate justice of the Supreme Court.
“A Cebuano of unquestioned integrity, competence and knowledge of the law, Justice Hormachuelos has been efficient and effective in performing her duties and responsibilities as a justice and has earned the respect of the members of the bench and the bar. Her untarnished record is a living testament of her diligence and moral uprightness in the government service,” Garcia said in her recommendation letter.
Hormachuelos visited the governor last Tuesday.
“But of course it is still up to the President,” Garcia said in an interview yesterday.
In 2005, Hormachuelos was also considered for the same position but President Arroyo picked Associate Justice Romeo A. Brawner of Kiangan, Ifugao Province.
Cebuano lawmakers had also endorsed her then.
Hormachuelos has earned the distinction of being the highest-ranking female jurist from Cebu and was a recipient of the Asian Mother-Achiever Award for Law and Judiciary in 2003. (MBG)
