New justices take oath

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo administered the oath of office Wednesday to four newly appointed justices who will join the ranks of the Court of Appeals (CA) and the Sandiganbayan.

The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Supreme Court en banc session hall in Manila.

The new officials are CA Associate Justices Robert Victor Consunji Marcon and Snooky Maria Ana C. Bareno-Sagayo, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justices Hans Chester Tiu Nocom and Fritz Bryn Anthony Makasiar Delos Santos.

CA Associate Justice Marcon fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Fernanda C. Lampas Peralta as CA Presiding Justice.

Marcon, a graduate of San Beda College of Law, previously served as a Presiding Judge for the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Lucena City and later for the Family Court in Makati City before his elevation.

CA Associate Justice Bareno-Sagayo succeeds Jacinto G. Fajardo Jr., who retired earlier this year.

Bareno-Sagayo, who also graduated from San Beda University, previously served in various judiciary offices, including the Supreme Court and the CA, before serving as a Presiding Judge for the Municipal Trial Court in Pandi, Bulacan, and the RTC in Valenzuela City.

Meantime, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Nocom takes the post vacated by the retired Bernelito R. Fernandez. Nocom is a Far Eastern University law graduate and previously held roles as a prosecutor in the Department of Justice and a special counsel at the Manila City Office of the City Prosecutor.

Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Delos Santos assumes the position left open following the promotion of Geraldine Faith A. Econg as the anti-graft court’s Presiding Justice.