PNoy names CA Justice Bernabe as SC associate justice

Malacañang on Friday announced the appointment of Court of Appeals Justice Estella Perlas Bernabe as a new associate justice of the Supreme Court. Perlas will take the post vacated by Conchita Carpio Morales who retired early this year. Morales has since been named Ombudsman. "We congratulate Justice Bernabe for her appointment as the new associate justice of the SC," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing. Lacierda likewise said that Bernabe previously served as regional trial court judge of Makati from January 2000 to March 4, 2004. She was also a metropolitan trial court judge form March 1999 to January 2000 and a technical assistant in the Office of the Court Administrator from 1977 to 1979. Lacierda said Bernabe completed her Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in banking and finance at St. Paul College of Manila and graduated as magna cum laude. Bernabe earned her law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University College of Law in 1976 and graduated class salutatorian. She passed the Bar examination in 1977. She was born on May 14, 1952 in Plaridel, Bulacan and is married to lawyer Ricardo Bernabe. They have two children. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News