President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed three new associate justices to the Court of Appeals (CA), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Wednesday.
In a social media post, the PCO identified the appointees as Allan Batarra Gepty, Leilani Marie N. Dacanay-Grimares, and Pia Cristina B. Bersamin-Embuscado.
“Their appointments reinforce the judiciary and support the administration of justice in the country,” the PCO said.
Bersamin-Embuscado is the former presiding judge of the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 198 and the eldest daughter of former Chief Justice and Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin.
Gepty previously served as an undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where he handled free trade agreement negotiations.
Dacanay-Grimares is a former presiding judge of the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court Branch 294.
The three new magistrates were among 80 nominees shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council for the vacancies created by the retirement of CA justices.
The CA is composed of 69 justices, including its presiding justice.
