PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed a San Beda College of Law school mate as member of the Judicial and Bar Council.
In transmittal letter received by the office of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Duterte named retired Pasig Regional Trial Court Judge Toribio Elises Ilao Jr. as regular member of the seven-member JBC tasked to vet nominees to judicial posts.
Ilao takes the place of retired Court of Appeals Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman who stepped down last July 9 as JBC member representing the private sector.
Ilao was the judge of Pasig RTC branch 266 that junked the murder and kidnapping charges against Andrea Rosal, daughter of New People’s Army leader Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, in 2014. He is said to be “sparring partner” of Duterte in the boxing gym during their law school days.
The JBC is chaired by Chief Justice Sereno with Aguirre II and Senator Leila de Lima and Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali as ex-officio members.
The other regular members of the council are: retired SC Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, for retired justices’ sector; lawyer Jose Mejia representing the academe; and lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.