MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed two new associate justices for the Court of Appeals (CA) and one for the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

On Wednesday, October 19, the Supreme Court announced the appointment of Selma Palacio Alaras as new CA associate justice, replacing former associate justice Gabriel Ingles. Alaras was named earlier in July as a nominee for the position.

Alaras, before her appointment, was the presiding judge of Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 62. She served in the Makati court for at least 19 years – since 2003.

She was the judge who decided to sentence Horacio Herrer to life imprisonment – the Mexican national allegedly linked to the Sinaloa drug cartel in 2019.

According to University of Makati School of Law, Alaras has been a lecturer at the Philippine Judicial Academy since 2010. She also teaches law at San Beda University Manila since 1991, and in San Beda College Alabang since 2008.

The newly appointed CA associate justice is a member of the executive committee of the Philippine Mediation Center since 2010. Alaras finished her studies at the University of the Philippines, and finished law at San Beda University in 1990.

She was admitted to the Bar at in 1991 with roll no. 36793.

Meanwhile, Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan was also appointed as CA associate justice, replacing Edgardo Camello. Wagan is the presiding judge of Pasay City RTC Branch 111.

Wagan was the judge who sentenced blogger Manuel Mejorada guilty for four counts of online libel for his remarks against former senator Franklin Drilon. The new CA associate justice is also a member of the Philippine Judges Association and the Philippine Supreme Court Sub-Committee on Commercial Courts.

She was admitted to the Bar in March 1994, with roll no. 39304.

As CA associate justices, Alaras and Wagan will help enacting the appellate court’s mandate to exercise “jurisdiction on all cases not falling within the original and exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.”

Corazon Ferrer-Flores, Supreme Court’s Deputy Clerk of Court and chief of Fiscal Management and Budget Office, was appointed as the CTA’s new associate justice. She replaced Juanito Castañeda.

Flores was admitted to the Bar in May 1987, with roll no. 34651.

CTA has jurisdiction over civil tax cases, including local tax cases, property taxes, and final collection of taxes. It has also an appellate function or appeals mandate like the CA.

These are one of the latest appointments in the judiciary after former president Rodrigo Duterte picked new justices before he finished his term. – Rappler.com