Presiding Justice of the Sandiganbayan, four Court of Appeals (CA) Justices, two Ombudsman officials, and 10 lower court judges comprise the last set of judicial appointments made by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before a constitutional ban took effect on March 10.

Court Administrator and SC Spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the Supreme Court has received the appointment papers of 18 appointees of the President to various judicial posts.

Nine of the appointees, including the four new CA magistrates, took their oaths of office before Associate Justice Renato C. Corona during mass oath-taking rites held Wednesday night at the Supreme Court building on Padre Faura Street in Manila.

The appointees were led by newly-designated Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Norberto Y. Geraldez and new CA Associate Justices Myra Fernandez, Nina Valenzuela, Eduardo Peralta Jr., and Ramon Paul Hernando.

Geraldez was chosen by the President over Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr. and Senior Associate Justice Edilberto Sandoval, who was the acting Sandiganbayan chief since former Presiding Justice Ma. Cristina Cortez Estrada retired last Nov. 27 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The 60-year-old Geraldez was a former partner of the prestigious Angara, Abello, Concepcion, Regala & Cruz (ACCRA) Law Office. He is currently the chairman of the First Division.

Except for Hernando, all other new appointees to the CA were Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) judges. Hernando was Quezon City RTC judge prior to his appointment to the appellate court.

Fernandez, meanwhile, was the trial judge who ordered the arrest of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on charges that he masterminded the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Mrs. Arroyo likewise appointed Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Executive Judge Maria Cristina J. Cornejo as the new Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan.

Deputy Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras Sulit and Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni were also appointed by the President to replace Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio and Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Victor Fernandez, respectively.

Both Villa-Ignacio and Fernandez retired earlier this month after completing their respective seven-year terms.

Mrs. Arroyo also named RTC Judges Paulino Gallegos (Manila), Anjanette De Leon Ortille (Marikina City), Teodora R. Gonzales (Malolos City), Dennis Alcantar (Cagayan de Oro City), Bonifacio M. Macabaya (Cagayan de Oro City), Gamor B. Disalo (Marawi City), and Antonio Guiling (Marawi City).

Other appointees were Judge Eric D. Banasan of the Municipal Trial Court of San Mateo, Isabela and Judges Maria Gilda L. Pangilinan and Janet A. Samar of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Quezon City.