Court of Appeals

1. How are you as a boss to your staff?

Presently, I am presiding in two courts, one in QC and the other in

Tanauan City as a presiding Judge. I have more or less ___ employees. I
have good relationships with my staff. I can say that I interact with them
professionally, specially when it is work- related, but I also ensure that
they can treat me as a comrade on matters outside work.

I kept things light inside the office. I also ensure that despite being strict
with my standards of work, my staff are still motivated to work. I always
ensure that the division of labor is duly observed. I of course want to
inspire them to do good so that we can all be assets of the government.

2. What is your stand in the rift between the judiciary and the executive
branch of the government?

As a public servant, I actually got to work both in the executive, as a former

prosecutor, in the legislative as a municipal councilor, and in the
Judiciary, for about 8 years now. As for me, their roles are of course,
distinct from each other. The executive branch is tasks to enforce laws
that are created not just by the Legislative, but also by the executive itself.
On the other hand, the Judiciary interprets these laws whenever
challenged before our courts. And these differences of their roles should
always be kept and also respected. The executive shall never mingle with
the decision making and interpretation of laws of the Judiciary because it
will be absurd for them to do so. As for the Judiciary, we should maintain
our independence. Our duties are to interpret and to apply laws and to
decide actual controversies and not to create new laws because we do not
have the power to do so. Although it is indeed difficult since cases decided
usually have impact to other branches like the Executive, the Judiciary
should never be influence and should always maintain its stand. We
should have both independence and consistency, as mentioned by our
retired justice Carpio.

3. What can you contribute in the CA if appointed?

I want to be an asset to the CA. So once appointed, I will dispose cases
fairly and swiftly. I will at all times adhere to the independence and
integrity that the Court of Appeals seeks to upheld. Of course, the
transparency of the proceedings before our courts should also be given
importance and that is one of the main agenda that I want to enhance once
appointed.
Court of Appeals

4. What is your goal if appointed in CA?

Once appointed, my goal is to dispense justice while maintaining my
integrity and independence. I will assure to the public that I will remain
humble, simple and the dignified Judge that I was. I also want the people
to believe again in the Judiciary, specially in this second to the highest
court of the land, that once cases reach this level, they will be reassured
that justice will be served.

5. How do you see yourself as a Justice?

This is a dream that I have since then, to be a Justice of the Court of
Appeals. But this is a dream not for personal sake, but I guess, formed
due to the call of public service. That’s why I can see myself as a Justice
who works to serve the public, and not for personal interest. I am a Justice
who maintains my integrity and patriotism, and someone who always
keeps in mind that I will never go against my Oath because I treasure this
position so much.

6. How do you dispense justice?

I will dispense justice all in accordance with the rule of law and under the
oath that we take. It must be swift so as to reduce the unnecessary time lags in
the dispense of decisions. However, in the dispense of justice, we should not only
take into consideration that it must be swift, it must, more importantly be of
quality and accountability.
7. Why do you deserve to be a Justice? Do you have the qualification to be
one?
I deserve to be a Justice because I know, through my 8 years working as
a Judge both in the MTC and the RTC, I have earned the qualifications to
be a member of the Court of Appeals. I have dispensed justice not just in
a prompt manner but of course with quality. I have a lot of decisions
affirmed by the Court of Appeals, and some affirmed by the Supreme
Court. I have contributed to the academe on my own ways. I am teaching
in law schools both within and outside Metro Manila. For some years now,
I am being invited as lecturers for bar examinees of the different law
centers in the country. I am also an author of remedial law books that are
being used by law students, bar examinees and law practitioners.

8. Teaching career: Why do you teach that subject? Special story?