Arroyo names new SC justice

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has appointed a Court of Appeals associate justice to the Supreme Court. CA Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo was chosen by Mrs. Arroyo from the list of six nominees submitted to her by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), according to SC spokesman Midas Marquez. It was the list that the President earlier wanted expanded, but was not changed by the council chaired by Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno. "With due respect, the JBC cannot acquiesce to (the) request to expand the short list of nominees...The decision whether to include three or more than three names in the short list of nominees exclusively belongs to the JBC," said Puno in a letter addressed to Ermita. Del Castillo will occupy the post left by retired justice Alicia Austria Martinez, leaving the seat left by retired justice Dante Tinga still vacant. Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said Del Castillo's appointment should end speculations that Malacañang returned the list of nominees to the JBC because it wanted Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera to be included in it. "In fairness to the Acting Justice Secretary, she is inhibiting herself in all meetings pertaining to this. Speculations are up in the air because it is the political season," Golez said. Del Castillo, who obtained his law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1976, has been with the CA since Aug. 27, 2001. Before that, he was a judge in Quezon City, Angeles City, and San Mateo town in Rizal province. He was president of the Pampanga-Angeles City TRC Judges Association and former executive vice president of the Philippine Judges Association. Del Castillo also used to be the counsel, corporate secretary and vice president of the Araneta Group of Companies, a partner at the Jalandoni, Herrera, Del Castillo and Associates and F. Sychango and Del Castillo Law Offices, and an instructor at the Centro Escolar University. A native of Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte, he is married to lawyer Cynthia del Castillo, who is a partner at the Romulo Mabanta Law Office. - GMANews.TV