Marcos appoints new CA justices

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has appointed two new associate justices of the Court of Appeals (CA) and one associate justice of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), the Supreme Court (SC) reported yesterday.

A four-page appointment letter addressed to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, dated Oct. 11 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, stated that Marcos has appointed Ma. Selma Palacio Alaras and Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan as associate justices of the CA.

Bersamin said that Alaras will replace Gabriel Ingles while Jorge-Wagan takes the place of Edgardo Camello. Before appointment to the CA, they were Regional Trial Court judges.

Aside from Alaras and Jorge-Wagan, Bersamin also disclosed that Marcos has appointed Corazon Ferrer-Flores, head of the SC’s Fiscal Management and Budget Office as associate justice of the CTA, replacing Juanito Castañeda.

The SC said that the three newly appointed officials took their oaths of office before Gesmundo on Oct. 19.

Malacañang, meanwhile, confirmed the appointment of the three new associate justices, saying Chief Justice Gesmundo has administered their oath of office.
“The Palace and the entire nation wish them well,” Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement. – Alexis Romero