VILLARAMA IS NEW SC JUSTICE / GMA
COMPETENT TO BE SPEAKER - ALLIES
[PHOTO
AT LEFT - Court of Appeals Justice Martin Villarama (third from
left) takes his oath as the 166th justice of the Supreme Court before Chief
Justice Reynato Puno. Looking on are (from left) Villarama’s son Carlo, wife and
SC en banc Clerk of Court Ma. Luisa, SC Justice Diosdado Peralta and wife CA
Justice Fernanda Peralta, and SC Justice Lucas Bersamin. |MANILA, Philippines]
MANILA, NOVEMBER 8, 2009 (STAR) Court of Appeals Justice Martin Villarama Jr. was sworn in yesterday as the newest Supreme Court (SC) justice, replacing Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago who retired last month.
Villarama took his oath as the 166th SC justice even as another vacancy remains in the high tribunal following the retirement of Justice Leonardo Quisumbing last Nov. 5.
The 63-year-old Villarama is the husband of SC En Banc Clerk of Court Ma. Luisa Dizon-Villarama.
He was a perennial nominee by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) and has been nominated nine times.
Villarama obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU) after graduating from De la Salle University with a degree on business administration.
He began his law career as a technical assistant in the Legal Research Division, now Office of the Chief Attorney, of the SC.
Before rejoining the judiciary in 1986, Villarama worked as legal counsel and corporate secretary for various companies.
He was appointed judge of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court in 1986 and served as Executive Judge from 1992 to 1996.
Villarama, who hails from Manila, was a recipient of the Ulirang Ama Award for Law and Judiciary and Katangi-tanging Anak ng Angat, Bulacan in 2003.
He was promoted in March 1998 to the CA where he served as presiding chairman of the CA’s Fifth Division and supervising justice of the Judicial Records Division.
Villarama served as examiner of Labor and Social Legislation in the 2004 Bar examinations.
He has also received recognition as one of the appellate court justices with zero or least pending cases during the 71st anniversary of the CA in 2007.
Villarama is also a member of the SC Sub-committee on the Revision of Rules on Criminal Procedure and a lecturer in the School of Law of MLQU.
Villarama was also a delegate in the 36th Program of Instruction for Lawyers conducted by the Harvard Law School’s Faculty in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the US.
Born on April 14, 1946, Villarama and Ma. Luisa Dizon have two children - Dr. Clarissa D. Villarama-Cellona, a dermatologist, and Carlo Villarama, who recently took the Bar exams.
'She's more than competent to be Speaker' By Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) Updated November 08, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo is more than qualified to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives given her extensive political experience, two of her allies in Congress said yesterday.
Having been a technocrat herself – aside from being a former senator and vice president – Mrs. Arroyo is very competent to hold the position, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez and Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo said.
“Mrs. Arroyo did what she could for the country, even her detractors cannot deny that. She is highly qualified as vice president, or even as Speaker of the House. Remember, she was vice president before,” said Suarez, chairman of the House committee on oversight.
He said the country stands to benefit should President Arroyo decide to run and win.
“President Arroyo’s expertise and experience in running the government will further boost the chances of the next administration to succeed,” Suarez said.
Mrs. Arroyo was catapulted to power in January 2001 with the ouster of President Joseph Estrada in a popular uprising.
Suarez also reiterated that there is no provision in the 1987 Constitution that explicitly bars Mrs. Arroyo from participating in the vice presidential race after her term expires in June 2010.
“Nobody knows for sure if President Arroyo will seek another elective post but there is no legal impediment should she decide to run. She can participate in the 2010 elections,” he said.
Romualdo, for his part, said Mrs. Arroyo has worked hard since assuming the presidency and has remained a 24/7 chief executive.
“The ultimate decision on what post to run rests on President Arroyo. She has proven her competence as vice president during the Estrada administration,” Suarez said.
Romualdo, on the other hand, said it is going to be an interesting vice presidential race if Mrs. Arroyo decides to run.
“If she wins, and there’s a big chance for that, President Arroyo will be an asset to the next administration,” he said.