President Duterte has appointed two associate justices to the Court of Appeals (CA).
In separate transmittal letters, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea informed Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo of the President’s appointment of Eleuterio Larisma Bathan and John Zurbito Lee CA associate justices.
Bathan replaces Justice Japar B. Dimaampao who was promoted to the Supreme Court on July 2, 2021, while Lee was replacement for Associate Justice Dorothy P. Montejo Gonzaga who resigned on Nov. 3, 2021.
Prior to their CA appointments, Bathan was a judge at the regional trial court in Quezon City, while Lee was managing partner of a law firm.
There are still two vacancies in the CA, created by the retirement of Associate Justice Gabriel T. Ingles on Feb. 27, 2022, and the retirement of Associate Justice Edgardo A. Camello today, May 19.
At the Court of Tax Appeals, there would also be a vacancy on June 24 with the retirement of Associate Justice Juanito C. Castaneda Jr.
Last Wednesday, the President also appointed CA Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh as the 15th SC justice. Justice Singh took her oath of office before Chief Justice Gesmundo on the same day she was appointed.
