“I love judges and I love courts. They are my ideals that typify on earth what we shall meet hereafter in heaven under a just God.” –William Howard Taft
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed the following judges for the islands of Panay and Negros: Daniel Antonio Gerardo S. Amular (RTC Branch 35, Iloilo City); Oscar Leo S. Billena (RTC Branch 70 Barotac Viejo, Iloilo); Jose E. Mauricio E. Gomez (RTC Branch 71 Barotac Viejo, Iloilo); Nelita Jesusa Arboleda-Bacaling (RTC Branch 72 Guimbal, Iloilo); Gemalyn Faunillo-Tarol (RTC Branch 76, Janiuay, Iloilo); Ernesto L. Abijay, Jr. (RTC Branch 10 San Jose, Antique); Josefina Fulo-Muego (RTC Branch 13 Culasi, Antique); Phoebe A. Gargantiel-Balbin (RTC Branch 45 Bacolod City, Negros Occidental); Edwin B. Gomez (RTC Branch 77 Sipalay City, Negros Occidental); Gwendolyn I. Jimenea-Tiu (RTC Branch 60 Cadiz City, Negros Occidental); Reginald M. Fuentebella (RTC Branch 73 Sagay City, Negros Occidental); Mila D. Yap-Camiso (RTC Branch 74 La Carlota City, Negros Occidental); Gertrude Belgica Jiro (MTC Dumangas, Iloilo); Kathryn Rose A. Hitalia-Baliatan (MTC Miag-ao, Iloilo); Meliza Joan Berano Robite (MTCC Branch 2 Iloilo City); Larnie Fleur B. Palma-Kim (MTCC Branch 6, Iloilo City); Mark Anthony D.R. Polonan (MTCC Branch 8, Iloilo City); Rysty Ann C. Espinosa-Borja (MTCC Branch 9, Iloilo City); Joan Marie B. Bargas-Betita (3rd MCTC Malinao-Lezo-Numancia, Aklan); Maria Fe Macabales-Taal (3rd MCTC Patnongon-Bugasong-Valderrama, Antique); Joevy Paclibar Velnzuela (5th MCTC Sigma-Sapian-Jamindan, Capiz); Kathleen Gigante Delantar (MTCC Branch 2 Roxas City, Capiz); Jeeli Panaguiton Espinosa (2nd MCTC Buenavista-San Lorenzo, Guimaras); Bienvenido B. Llanes Jr. (MTC Pontevedra, Negros Occidental); Jose Meno C. Ruiz (MTCC Escalante City, Negros Occidental); Jose Manuel A. Lopez (MTCC Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental); and Maria Concepcion Elumba Rivera (MTCC, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental).
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We can’t blame Calinog Mayor Alex Centena is his presence has been sorely missed at League of Municipalities gatherings. Ever since Duterte named Centena among those allegedly involved in narco-politics, the former Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chair has reportedly refused to join events in Iloilo.
“He has become security conscious,” noticed a former broadcaster from Cabatuan, Iloilo. “The mayor stays in his safe house most of the time and his whereabouts can’t be ascertained even by some of his municipal staff in regular days and during weekend.”
Weight
He became reclusive and lost weight, the former broadcaster added.
Centena have reportedly cancelled all out-of-town commitments and refused interviews with reporters who visited Calinog.
Duterte has threatened to kill those involved in trafficking and manufacturing of illegal drugs, including local government executives.
More than 7,000 have already been killed nationwide since the Duterte administration launched the “Oplan Tokhang” against drug pushers and users.
Centena has repeatedly denied links to any drug lord, but admitted slain Iloilo City-based drug lord Melvin ‘Boyet’ Odicta Sr. once visited his house.
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If I were House Speaker Pantaleon ‘Bebot’ Alvarez, I would refrain from further humiliating detained Senator Leila De Lima.
In his most recent media conference, he lambasted De Lima, calling her the “No. 1 drug lord in the Philippines.”
True or not, in our culture, we don’t kick somebody who is already down – especially a woman.
We have never heard the same level of vitriol and anger from past speakers like Nicanor Yñiguez, Ramon Mitra, Jr., Jose De Venecia, Arnulfo Fuentebella, and Feliciano Belmonte Jr./WDJ