THE NEW magistrate of the country’s anti-graft and corruption court is a Thomasian.
President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Civil Law professor Oscar Herrera, Jr. as one of the 13 justices of Sandiganbayan last April 26.
“[Herrera] made it 12 times (nine times for the Court of Appeals and three times for the Sandiganbayan) to the shortlist of nominees submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council to former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, but was repeatedly bypassed,” according to the statement released by the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson last April 28.
“I am honored to be appointed by the President, considering his high credibility. I am (also) humbled by the appointment,” Herrera told the Varsitarian.
Herrera finished his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Faculty of Arts and Letters in 1975, and obtained his law degree in 1979.
“I was a serious law student [who was] very much focused and dedicated to his studies,” he said.
He was editor of the UST Law Review in 1978 and has been president of the UST Law Alumni Association since 2006.
Prior to his appointment, Herrera was the presiding judge of Branch 20 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Bulacan for 17 years. He founded the Lakan-Hukom, the organization of Region III RTC judges, in 2001.
He has also been a law professor at San Beda College, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Far Eastern University, and Bulacan State University for the past 24 years, teaching Practice Court and Trial Technique, Law and Values, and Civil and Remedial Law.
Among the awards he had received were the 2010 UST AB Gantimpala, 2009 Ulirang Ama Award given by the Quezon City Government, 2004 Dangal ng Bayan Award for Outstanding Public Service, 2003 Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña Award for Judicial Excellence, and the 2001 Centennial Award for Judicial Excellence in Region III.
Herrera said he would live up to the mandate as a justice and would always uphold truth and justice to follow the rule of law.
“I will always be influenced by the Thomasian values and guidance of the University, because I have always been attached to the University,” Herrera said.
I think President Aquino appointment to Oscar Herrera as the Civil Law Officer is great. Herrera has high credibility and so very honored and I think he will rule truthfully for the government. Thus, Oscar Herrera is a good civil law ruler since he is influenced by good values and traits.