Justice Ong, who in 2002 begged off from hearing the plunder case of former President Joseph Estrada because of his "close association" with the accused, becomes President Arroyo’s 12th appointee to the 15-member Supreme Court.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Justice Ong will fill in the lone vacant seat in the Supreme Court left with the retirement of Associate Justice Romeo Callejo Sr. last month.

In a news conference in the Palace, Ermita said the President transmitted the appointment papers of Ong, current chairman of the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division, to the Supreme Court shortly before lunch yesterday.

Ermita said the President chose Ong from a short-list of eight nominees recommended by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) because of his laudable track record. Ong is the 12th appointee of President Arroyo in the Supreme Court.

Prior to his appointment, Ong handled cases involving the government’s recovery of ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family at the anti-graft court.

Ong expressed elation over his appointment by the President, a known political rival of Estrada.

"I would like to thank the President for reposing her confidence in me," Justice Ong said when asked for a reaction. "I would like to assure her and the entire nation that I will perform my duties as a High Court magistrate with utmost dedication and with only my conscience and the good of the nation as my guide."

Justice Ong is leaving his post as chairman of the antigraft court’s Fourth Division, which topped the other four divisions in case disposal and conviction rates for four straight years since 2002.

His appointment came as an advance gift for him as he turns 54 on May 25.

He served as Sandiganbayan justice for almost nine years since his appointment in October, 1998 by then President Estrada.

Upon his appointment, Ong was assigned as junior member of the court’s First Division then chaired by now the late Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena.

When the SC was in the process of choosing the members of a special division in the Sandiganbayan to exclusively try the plunder and other cases against Estrada in 2002, Justice Ong expressed reluctance to be part of the special Estrada court.

According to the SC, Justice Ong, along with Associate Justices Godofredo Legaspi and Raoul Victorino (now retired), had expressed his preference not to be assigned to the special division "in view of (his) close relationship and association with the accused and their families."

Aside from being one of Estrada’s first appointees to the Sandiganbayan, Ong was reportedly a "compadre" of Estrada’s son and plunder case co-accused, opposition Sen. Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada.

Estrada voiced surprise at Ong’s appointment.

"I’m surprised that he was appointed. There are justices more senior than him," Estrada said.

Ong served as Sandiganbayan justice for almost nine years since his designation in October 1998 by then President Estrada. He earned his law degree at San Beda College and completed his Masters of Laws degree at the Manuel L. Quezon University.

Ong served as assistant city prosecutor of Manila from 1986 to 1994. Afterwards, he was appointed judge of Pasig City Regional Trial Court where he sat as presiding judge in a special court assigned to hold trial on heinous offenses until his appointment to the Sandiganbayan in 1998.

Ong is married to Nancy L. Ong with whom he has three children--Neil Gregory, Gregory II and Nicole.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno leads the JBC panel as concurrent JBC ex-officio chairman. The other exofficio members are Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Rep. Simeon A. Datumanong.

Regular members are Dean Amado L. Dimayuga, retired Court of Appeals Justice Regino C. Hermosisima, Jr., Atty. J Conrado P. Castro, and retired Sandiganbayan Justice Raoul V. Victorino. (with a report by Edmer F. Panesa)