NEW judges in Ilocos, Marinduque, La Union, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna and Palawan, were named by President Benigno Aquino III.

Records from the Supreme Court show that Aquino named former labor arbiter Luvina Padolina Roque as judge of San Pablo Regional Trial Court branch 29 while Barry Boy Salvador, ex-chief of staff of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Lucenito Tagle, was assigned at the Municipal Trial Court branch 1 of Antipolo City.

Appointees in the RTC include Judge Leah delos Reyes Baguyo and Judge Ambrosio De Luna of Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Judge Beatrice Alvarez Medina of San Mateo, Rizal; Judge Napoleon Matienzo of Gumaca, Quezon; and Judge Emmanuel Recalde of Boac, Marinduque.

They are joined by Judge Redan Acal of MCTC Cervantes-Quirino, Ilocos Sur; Judge Jesse Celestina De Mayo Cabaguio of MTCC Candon City, Ilocos Sur; Judge Evangeline Cabochan Santos of MTCC Antipolo City, Rizal; Judge Maria Christine Isabel Falguera-Guerrero of MTCC in San Pablo, Laguna; and Judge Rean Arizala-Joaquin of San Pablo City, Laguna.

Rounding up the list are Judge Mederlyn Mangalindan of MTCC of Cavite City; Judge Melinda Mantilla of MCTC Claver-Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte; Judge Ronilo Beronio, MCTC, Roxas-Cagayancillo, Palawan; Judge Eric Fortaleza of MTC of Santa Cruz, Laguna; Judge Crisostomo Danguilan of MTC, Cabuyao, Laguna and Judge Katherine Jambaro-Altubar of MTC Angono, Rizal.

They were appointed following a screening process by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) headed by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Under the Constitution, the President should only select new judges, justices and the Ombudsman from the shortlist of nominees forwarded to him by the JBC. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)