Philippine Court of Appeals

The Philippine Court of Appeals (Filipino: Hukumang Paghahabol ng Pilipinas) is the country's second highest judicial court, just after the Supreme Court. The court consists of 68 Associate Justices and 1 Presiding Justice. Pursuant to the Constitution, the Court of Appeals "reviews not only the decisions and orders of the Regional Trial Courts nationwide but also those of the Court of Tax Appeals, as well as the awards, judgments, final orders or resolutions of, or authorized by 21 Quasi-Judicial Agencies exercising quasi-judicial functions mentioned in Rule 43 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, plus the National Amnesty Commission (Pres. Proclamation No. 347 of 1994) and Office of the Ombudsman (Fabian v. Desierto, 295 SCRA 470). Added to the formidable list are the decisions and resolutions of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) which are now initially reviewable by this court, instead of a direct recourse to the Supreme Court, via petition for certiorari under Rule 65 (St. Martin Funeral Homes v. NLRC, 295 SCRA 414)". The Court of Appeals building is located at Maria Orosa Street, Ermita in Manila.

1 History
2 Fire
3 Current Justices
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
7 References

[edit] History

Organized on February 1, 1936, the Court of Appeals was initially composed of Justice Pedro Concepcion as the first Presiding Judge and 10 Appellate Judges appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the National Assembly.

It had exclusive appellate jurisdiction of all cases not falling under the original and exclusive appellate jurisdiction of the 7-man Supreme Court. Its decisions in those cases were final, except when the Supreme Court upon petition for certiorari on questions of law required that the case be certified to it for review. It had also original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, injunction, certiorari, habeas corpus and all other auxiliary writs in aid of its appellate jurisdiction. The Court then sat either en banc or in two divisions, one of 6 and another of 5 Judges. The appellate Judges had the same qualifications as those provided by the Constitution for Supreme Court Justices.

In March 1938, the appellate Judges were named Justices and their number increased from 11 to 15, with three divisions of 5 under Commonwealth Act No. 259. On December 24, 1941, the membership of the Court was further increased to 19 Justices under Executive Order No. 395.

The Court functioned during the Japanese occupation, 1941-44. But in March 1945, due to abnormal conditions at the time, the Court was abolished by President Sergio Osmeña through Executive Order No. 37. The end of World War II restored the democratic processes in the country. On October 4, 1946, Republic Act No. 52 was passed recreating the Court with a Presiding Justice and fourteen (14) Associate Justices. They composed 5 divisions of 3 Justices each.

On August 23, 1956, the Court membership was expanded to 18 Justices per Republic Act No. 1605. The number was hiked to 24 Justices as decreed by Republic Act No. 5204 approved on June 15, 1968. Ten years later, the unabated swelling of its dockets called for a much bigger Court of 45 Justices under Presidential Decree No. 1482 of June 10, 1978. Then came the Judiciary Reorganization on January 17, 1983 through Executive Order No. 864 of President Marcos. The Court was renamed Intermediate Appellate Court and its membership enlarged to 51 Justices. However, only thirty-seven (37) Justices were appointed.

On July 28, 1986, President Aquino issued Executive Order No.33 restoring the original name of the Court of Appeals with a Presiding Justice and fifty (50) Associate Justices.

On February 23, 1995, R.A. No. 7902 was passed expanding the jurisdiction of the Court effective March 18, 1995. On December 30, 1996, R.A. No. 8246 created six (6) more divisions in the Court, thereby increasing its membership from 51 to 69 Justices. These additional divisions - 3 for Visayas and 3 for Mindanao paved the way for the appellate court's regionalization. The CA in the Visayas sits in Cebu City while Cagayan de Oro City is home to the CA for Mindanao.

On August 18, 2007, Atty. Briccio Joseph Boholst, president of IBP — Cebu City Chapter, opposed the abolition of the CA in Cebu City, for it will cause inconvenience for both litigants and lawyers. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruben Reyes was tasked to investigate and submit recommendation to the High Tribunal because of the alleged massive graft and corruption of justices, especially in the issuance of temporary restraining orders (TRO’s).^[1]

On February 1, 2008, the Court celebrated its 72nd Anniversary.^[2]

[edit] Fire

On July 26, 2007, Fire hits CA main building, from the room of Associate Justice Edgardo Sundiam at the fourth floor. Thick smoke was coming out of the building as the fire continued to rage amid strong winds blowing, raising fears that the flames would become stronger.^[3]

[edit] Current Justices

Name	Position	Date of Appointment	Date of Birth	Date of Retirement
Hon. CONRADO M. VASQUEZ, JR.	Presiding Justice	March 22, 1994	January 6, 1940	January 6, 2010
Hon. PORTIA ALIÑO-HORMACHUELOS	Associate Justice	August 28, 1995	July 23, 1941	July 23, 2011
Hon. MARINA L. BUZON	Associate Justice	September 10, 1997	March 18, 1943	March 18, 2013
Hon. RODRIGO V. COSICO	Associate Justice	September 1, 1997	July 4, 1938	July 4, 2008
Hon. MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.	Associate Justice	April 6, 1998	April 14, 1946	April 14, 2016
Hon. ANDRES B. REYES, JR.	Associate Justice	May 25, 1999	May 11, 1950	May 11, 2020
Hon. REMEDIOS A. SALAZAR-FERNANDO	Associate Justice	May 25, 1999	September 2, 1953	September 2, 2023
Hon. JOSE L. SABIO, JR.	Associate Justice	May 28, 1999	May 25, 1941	May 25, 2011
Hon. EDGARDO P. CRUZ	Associate Justice	May 28, 1999	May 12, 1939	May 12, 2009
Hon. BIENVENIDO L. REYES	Associate Justice	August 22, 2000	July 6, 1947	July 6, 2017
Hon. JOSEFINA GUEVARA-SALONGA	Associate Justice	August 22, 2000	February 14, 1942	February 14, 2012
Hon. REBECCA DE GUIA-SALVADOR	Associate Justice	August 22, 2000	May 24, 1946	May 24, 2016
Hon. JUAN Q. ENRIQUEZ, JR.	Associate Justice	August 22, 2000	June 20, 1942	June 20, 2012
Hon. MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO	Associate Justice	August 29, 2001	July 29, 1949	July 29, 2019
Hon. AMELITA G. TOLENTINO	Associate Justice	August 27, 2001	July 4, 1944	July 4, 2014
Hon. MARIO L. GUARIÑA III	Associate Justice	April 15, 2002	November 11, 1941	November 11, 2011
Hon. REGALADO E. MAAMBONG	Associate Justice	April 15, 2002	January 2, 1939	January 2, 2009
Hon. EDGARDO F. SUNDIAM	Associate Justice	April 15, 2002	February 28, 1947	February 28, 2017
Hon. LUCAS P. BERSAMIN	Associate Justice	March 14, 2003	October 18, 1949	October 18, 2019
Hon. ROSMARI D. CARANDANG	Associate Justice	March 17, 2003	January 9, 1952	January 9, 2022
Hon. HAKIM S. ABDULWAHID	Associate Justice	March 17, 2003	June 12, 1945	June 12, 2015
Hon. NOEL G. TIJAM	Associate Justice	March 14, 2003	January 5, 1949	January 5, 2019
Hon. JOSE C. MENDOZA	Associate Justice	July 4, 2003	August 13, 1947	August 13, 2017
Hon. ROSALINDA ASUNCION-VICENTE	Associate Justice	July 16, 2003	November 23, 1943	November 23, 2013
Hon. JOSE C. REYES, JR.	Associate Justice	July 18, 2003	September 18, 1950	September 18, 2020
Hon. FERNANDA LAMPAS-PERALTA	Associate Justice	February 9, 2004	June 16, 1960	June 16, 2030
Hon. VICENTE Q. ROXAS	Associate Justice	February 9, 2004	December 8, 1949	December 8, 2019
Hon. MAGDANGAL M. DE LEON	Associate Justice	February 9, 2004	August 19, 1948	August 19, 2018
Hon. VICENTE S. E. VELOSO	Associate Justice	February 9, 2004	January 7, 1945	January 7, 2015
Hon. ISAIAS P. DICDICAN	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	July 4, 1945	July 4, 2015
Hon. ARCANGELITA ROMILLA-LONTOK	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	March 18, 1940	March 18, 2010
Hon. LUCENITO N. TAGLE	Associate Justice	April 1, 2004	June 26, 1938	June 26, 2008
Hon. JAPAR B. DIMAAMPAO	Associate Justice	March 18, 2004	December 27, 1963	December 27, 2033
Hon. CELIA C. LIBREA-LEAGOGO	Associate Justice	March 19, 2004	December 15, 1950	December 15, 2020
Hon. MONINA AREVALO-ZENAROSA	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	August 22, 1939	August 22, 2009
Hon. PAMPIO A. ABARINTOS	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	December 14, 1943	December 14, 2013
Hon. ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	May 14, 1952	May 14, 2022
Hon. MARIFLOR PUNZALAN CASTILLO	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	September 21, 1954	September 21, 2024
Hon. TERESITA DY-LIACCO FLORES	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	May 14, 1939	May 14, 2009
Hon. ARTURO G. TAYAG	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	March 2, 1940	March 2, 2010
Hon. SESINANDO E. VILLON	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	July 16, 1949	July 16, 2019
Hon. RAMON M. BATO, JR.	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	August 27, 1958	August 27, 2028
Hon. ROMULO V. BORJA	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	September 11, 1948	September 11, 2018
Hon. EDGARDO A. CAMELLO	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	May 19, 1952	May 19, 2022
Hon. RODRIGO F. LIM, JR.	Associate Justice	March 15, 2004	October 25, 1941	October 25, 2011
Hon. ENRICO A. LANZANAS	Associate Justice	January 24, 2005	April 19, 1938	April 19, 2008
Hon. MYRNA DIMARANAN-VIDAL	Associate Justice	January 24, 2005	December 20, 1939	December 20, 2009
Hon. NORMANDIE B. PIZARRO	Associate Justice	January 24, 2005	February 7, 1949	February 7, 2019
Hon. APOLINARIO D. BRUSELAS, JR.	Associate Justice	August 1, 2005	May 6, 1956	May 6, 2026
Hon. RAMON R. GARCIA	Associate Justice	August 31, 2005	May 10, 1954	May 10, 2024
Hon. RICARDO R. ROSARIO	Associate Justice	September 12, 2005	October 15, 1958	October 15, 2028
Hon. MARLENE GONZALES-SISON	Associate Justice	May 8, 2006	February 28, 1956	February 28, 2026
Hon. ROMEO F. BARZA	Associate Justice	May 8, 2006	August 2, 1949	August 2, 2019
Hon. AGUSTIN S. DIZON	Associate Justice	May 8, 2006	June 27, 1938	June 27, 2008
Hon. SIXTO C. MARELLA, JR.	Associate Justice	May 16, 2006	June 21, 1948	June 21, 2018
Hon. ANTONIO L. VILLAMOR	Associate Justice	May 31, 2006	July 4, 1942	July 4, 2012
Hon. PRISCILLA BALTAZAR-PADILLA	Associate Justice	May 31, 2006	July 2, 1958	July 2, 2028
Hon. MARIO V. LOPEZ	Associate Justice	May 31, 2006	June 4, 1955	June 4, 2025
Hon. FRANCISCO P. ACOSTA	Associate Justice	December 14, 2006	April 2, 1947	April 2, 2017
Hon. STEPHEN C. CRUZ	Associate Justice	December 14, 2006	August 3, 1950	August 3, 2020
Hon. JANE AURORA C. LANTION	Associate Justice	December 14, 2006	January 9, 1950	January 9, 2020
Hon. MICHAEL P. ELBINIAS	Associate Justice	December 14, 2006	April 6, 1958	April 6, 2028
Hon. ELIHU A. YBAÑEZ	Associate Justice	May 15, 2007	November 2, 1951	November 2, 2021
Hon. FRANCHITO N. DIAMANTE	Associate Justice	August 8, 2007	October 4, 1951	October 4, 2021
Hon. AMY JAVIER-LAZARO	Associate Justice	August 29, 2007	November 16, 1956	November 16, 2026
Hon. FLORITO S. MACALINO	Associate Justice	January 4, 2008	August 23, 1952	August 23, 2022
Hon. EDGARDO T. LLOREN	Associate Justice	January 4, 2008	August 8, 1951	August 8, 2021
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