New CA presiding justice takes oath

MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Court of Appeals (CA) Presiding Justice Romeo Barza has taken his oath of office before the Supreme Court (SC).

Barza, who was promoted by President Duterte from his previous post as CA associate justice, was sworn in by Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday.

Barza and Carpio were among the founders of the disbanded Carpio Villaraza Barza Cruz & Rosell Law Offices known as The Firm.

Barza was promoted after voting to dismiss the petition of detained Sen. Leila de Lima that sought to stop her indictment for drugs.

He replaced former CA presiding justice Andres Reyes Jr., who was appointed SC associate justice in July.

Born in Lupon, Davao Oriental, Barza started his career in the judiciary in October 1995 when he was named judge in Batangas City. He was elected national president of the Philippine Judges Association in 2003 and re-elected in 2005.

He obtained his law degree from the University of the Philippines in 1974. He was a trustee of the Philippine Judicial Academy from 2003 to 2006.

Barza was promoted to the CA in 2006 by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.