PHILJA OFFICIALS
PHILJA Executive Officials
Justice Rosmari Declaro Carandang
PHILJA Chancellor
Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Rosmari Declaro Carandang was appointed as Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy on February 22. She took her oath as the fourth, and second female, PHILJA Chancellor before Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo on February 23 at the Supreme Court En BancSession Hall.
Justice Carandang, who hails from Ilog, Taal, Batangas, mandatorily retired as SC Associate Justice last January 9, after serving the High Court for more than three years.
Justice Carandang graduated valedictorian of both her elementary and high school classes. She is an alumna of the University of the Philippines where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science degree in 1971 and Bachelor of Laws degree in 1975, graduating cum laudeand class salutatorian. She placed ninth in the 1975 Bar Examinations with an average of 84.95 percent.
Justice Carandang worked as a technical assistant in the Commission on Audit in 1976, and then went into private practice and worked with various financial institutions.
In December 1993, she was appointed Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 12. In March 2003, she was promoted to the Court of Appeals where she became Chairperson of its Third Division and Rules Committee. Justice Carandang also taught law at the Philippine Christian University and the Manuel L. Quezon University School of Law.
In November 2018, Justice Carandang was appointed as the 181st Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Carandang penned the High Court’s December 7, 2021 landmark decision on the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Justice Edgardo Lao Delos Santos
Vice Chancellor, Philippine Judicial Academy
Retired Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines
Justice Edgardo L. Delos Santos (known as “EDSA” to his colleagues) rose from humble beginnings until he became the 186th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Born in Palompon, Leyte on June 12, 1952 to fisherman Francisco Diongzon Delos Santos and housewife Basilisa Pajaron Lao, Justice EDSA (the 9th among 12 siblings) toiled his way through public elementary and high schools as a consistent honor student despite having scant resources, juggling between studies, household chores, paddling his father’s banca to the fish corral at dawn, and doing menial jobs like grinding cacao, peddling charcoal, buko ice drop, puto or cassava suman. After finishing his basic education, he enrolled in the University of San Carlos in Cebu City and earned his Bachelor’s Degree Major in Political Science and, later on, his Bachelor of Laws from the same university.
After passing the 1977 Bar Examinations, he was employed as Court Legal Researcher – I in the Court of First Instance, Branch 39, Manila, under Presiding Judge (later Court of Appeals Associate Justice) Abelardo M. Dayrit. Later on, he transferred to the Supreme Court first as a Technical Assistant and, later on, as a Court Confidential Attorney of Associate Justice (later Chief Justice) Felix V. Makasiar. Eventually, he was appointed as a Municipal Trial Court Presiding Judge at the age of 30, the youngest at that time, and assigned to Chief Justice Makasiar’s hometown in Siaton, Negros Oriental. Later, he was appointed as a Municipal Trial Court in Cities Presiding Judge in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and eventually became the Executive Judge. After serving the first level courts for a total of 10 years, he was promoted as Regional Trial Court Presiding Judge in Branch 45, RTC Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and served the station (and several other additional sala assignments in Negros Occidental and Guihulngan, Negros Oriental in a concurrent capacity) for almost 16 years before being elevated to the Court of Appeals where he served as an Associate Justice for more than 11 years and eventually became the Executive Justice of the Court of Appeals’ Visayas Station as well as the Chairperson of its Eighteenth (18th) Division.
During his stint in the Judiciary, Justice EDSA has handled several celebrated cases which tested, strengthened and refined his qualities of competence, integrity, probity, and independence. As a CA Justice, he has handled, among others, the writ of kalikasan case where he penned the decision ordering the closure of the Inayawan Landfill in Cebu City for posing serious and imminent environmental hazards. As an RTC Judge, he was the first magistrate to impose capital punishment against a foreign national for smuggling 2 kilos of marijuana at the Bacolod International Airport, at the time when capital punishment was restored. He has handled several heinous crimes cases like the “Magsungay Massacre” in Bacolod City and Kabankalan City, he had been designated to sit in stations designated as Special Drugs Court, he handled the case of a German national who was eventually convicted for engaging in “mail order brides,” and he concurrently presided over several salas at the same time, traveling all over Negros Island weekly. Notably, he also ranked 1st in the period spanning 1994 to 1996 as to the number of cases disposed or decided by a judge (2nd in 1996 and 3rd in 1995). Regarded by the local media in Bacolod City as a “no-nonsense judge,” Justice EDSA has maintained his role as an objective dispenser of justice.
Justice EDSA’s professional endeavors were also fruitful as he has obtained several recognitions which include: 2016 Ulirang Ama Sectoral Award for Law and Judiciary, 2009 Outstanding Palomponganon Award, 2008 Outstanding Law Alumnus of the University of San Carlos, Supreme Court En Banc Congratulatory Resolution (Re: Gender Justice Awards [A.M. No. 04-8-13-SC, August 24, 2004]), Novel Decision Award (Gender Justice Awards), Special Award on Women's Advocacy (Soroptimists Awards), and Community Relations Award (NARCOM). He was also nominated twice in 2006 and 2007 as a Judicial Excellence Awardee. A true Carolinian, Justice Edsa was also listed as one of the Most Notable Alumni of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City by the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Apart from his judicial duties, Justice EDSA was also a professor of law for 9 years first teaching Remedial Law (Criminal Procedure), Administrative Law, and Legal Ethics in the University of St. La Salle – College of Law in Bacolod City and then teaching Remedial Law (Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure) in Negros Oriental State University. He has since taken a hiatus from teaching to focus on clearing his dockets in the Court of Appeals, of which he has held an approximate disposal rate of 100%. He did the same when he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, mainly focusing on clearing case dockets. At present, he has not returned to teaching.
Justice EDSA’s 40 years of adjudication experience honed during his long stint in the Judiciary as well as his decade-long professorial experience has endowed him with an impartial mindset and a formidable wisdom which has enabled him to withstand the tremendous rigors of being a reliable magistrate.
Justice EDSA is happily married to Maribel D. Makasiar Delos Santos with whom he has five children (Atty. Fritz Bryn Anthony M. Delos Santos, Ivan Jason M. Delos Santos R.N., Atty. Gretel Kelly M. Delos Santos-Dy C.P.A., Dr. Jessica France M. Delos Santos M.D., and Tiara Mionette M. Delos Santos, an accountancy student of Silliman University) and several grandchildren.
Justice Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla
PHILJA Executive Secretary
Born on January 18, 1950 in Quezon City, Justice Ma. Luisa Cruz Quijano-Padilla is the fourth of the six children of Hector Morelos Quijano and Concepcion Victoria Cruz of San Ildefonso, Bulacan. She spent her elementary school years at the Holy Trinity Academy and graduated as Valedictorian in 1962. In high school, she studied at the Far Eastern University Girls High School and graduated as Salutatorian of Class 1966. She also went to college in the same university and took up AB English and graduated magna cum laude in 1970. In the same year, she began her studies at the Ateneo de Manila College of Law where she was a Dean's Lister until she graduated in 1974.
As a new lawyer, she was first engaged as Legal Officer III of the Bureau of Employment Services of the Department of Labor and Employment from 1975 to 1979. She was then hired as Chief of the Legal Division of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority for a short stint until her appointment as Metropolitan Trial Court Judge of Branch 60 with then Municipality of Mandaluyong. After serving for 16 years as presiding judge of the said court, she was promoted to the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City in August 1999 as Presiding Judge of Branch 215.
She was an active member of various associations in the Judiciary, namely: the Philippine Women Judges Association, International Women Judges Association, Philippine Judges Association and the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judges Association. She served as treasurer of the QC-RTC Judges Association from 2007 to 2009, first Vice President for a year and President for two consecutive years in 2010 and 2011.
In August 2011, Justice Padilla was appointed Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City. On May 17, 2012, she was appointed as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals by President Benigno Aquino III.
On June 4, 2021, Justice Padilla took her oath of office as the PHILJA Executive Secretary before Supreme Court Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe.
She is married to Atty. Victor Israel Padilla and they were blessed with six children. She is now a doting grandmother to her eleven grandchildren.
PHILJA CHIEFS OF OFFICES
Dean EMERITO I. ENGINCO, LLM
Chief of Office for Academic Affairs
Dean Emerito I. Enginco is the current PHILJA Chief of Office for Academic Affairs Office (AAO). Prior to his appointment as the AAO Chief, Dean Enginco is the Founding Dean of the De La Salle Lipa College of Law, a position he held since May 2010 until October 2022. He likewise taught law subjects in the same law school such as Persons and Family Relations, Public International Law as well as Legal and Judicial Ethics Review. Dean Enginco also taught law subjects such as Obligations and Contracts, Partnerships and Corporation Law, Fundamentals of Public Administration and Basic Taxation Law in various colleges from 1989 to 2010.
Dean Enginco is not new to government service having previously served as Branch Clerk of Court in the Regional Trial Court of Batangas City from 1997 to 1999, then as a Special Prosecutor and, eventually, as First Assistant City Prosecutor in Tanauan City from 1999 to 2007.
He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree major in Political Science with minor in Philosophy from Saint Louis University in Baguio City and his Bachelor of Laws degree from San Sebastian College Institute of Law in Manila (now San Sebastian College-Recoletos College of Law). He also holds a Master of Laws degree with Specialization in International Organizations from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington DC, USA as a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow in a Fulbright Program and likewise earned units in Master of Public Administration from the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG). Dean Enginco also participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program on the US Judicial System.
Atty. Sedrey M. Candelaria
Chief of Office, Research, Publications and Linkages Office, PHILJA
Professor Sedfrey M. Candelaria heads the Research, Publications and Linkages Office of the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), chairs its Department of Special Areas of Concern, and belongs to the PHILJA Corps of Professors.
Professor Candelaria was appointed Dean of the Ateneo Law School in February 2012, where he teaches Constitutional Law, Public International Law, Indigenous Peoples and the Law, Children’s Rights, and International Economic Law. He also teaches at the Political Science Department, European Studies Program and University for Peace-Consortium of the Ateneo de Manila University.
He is the current president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools and a member of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board of the Philippines. He also sits as a member of the Subcommittee on Admission to the Bar, and the Subcommittee on Maintenance of Membership in the Philippine Bar, both of the Supreme Court’s Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Bar Matters.
A Fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI) in Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada, Dean Candelaria has also authored several articles on constitutional law, law and economic development, judicial education, peace process, human rights, and international law. He has edited and conducted researches for UNICEF, ILO, UNHCR, UNDP and APEC Study Center.
He obtained his Master of Laws degree at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and his Bachelor of Laws degree at the Ateneo Law School. He has also been conferred the Diplomate in Juridical Science by the San Beda Graduate School of Law.
Dean Candelaria was actively involved in some celebrated test case litigation before the Supreme Court notably the Asia-Pacific Conference on East Timor, Davide Impeachment, IPRA and the GRP-MILF MOA-AD.He was also engaged as Peace Panel Member in the past peace negotiations with the CPP/NPA/NDF and MILF under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
During the 2010 Bar Examinations, Dean Candelaria was an examiner in Political and Public International Law.
Atty. Elmer DG. Eleria
PHILJA Chief of Office for Administration
Atty. Elmer DG. Eleria is currently the PHILJA Chief of Office for Administration. At one time, he was designated as the Acting Head of the Academic Affairs Office and the Concurrent Head of the Administrative Office.
Atty. Eleria obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws from Saint Louis University in Baguio City. He likewise took up a certificate course on Learning Design and Evaluation in the Research and Development of the Ateneo De Manila University Center for Organization.
Prior to his employment in PHILJA, Atty. Eleria was an Associate Lawyer in Anarna Law Office and a Human Resource Manager in Estrada (CB Balingit) Group of Companies.
In 2008, he started his career in PHILJA as Attorney III in the Office of the Vice Chancellor until his appointment in 2009 as the SC Chief Judicial Staff Officer in the Administrative Office.
Given the recognition as the 2014 PHILJA Employee of the Year, he has been involved in PHILJA Committees such as the Supreme Court Data Reconciliation Committee, PHILJA Management Committee, PHILJA Training Center Executive Committee and Benchbook Revision Committee. He was likewise assigned to represent PHILJA in various committees in the Court
He attended the World Judiciary Transformation Framework and Metrics held on August 18-19, 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand, as nominated by the PHILJA Chancellor, Justice Adolfo S. Azcuna. In 2017, he was one of the PHILJA delegates who participated in the International Exchange Program at the Federal Judicial Center, Washington D.C. USA and the National Center for State Courts, Virginia, USA.
He is a Guest Professorial Lecturer of the De La Salle University Dasmariñas where he teaches Business Laws for Accountancy students, specifically, Obligation and Contracts, Law on Business Organizations, Negotiable Instruments Law, Law on Sales, Agency and Credit Transactions.
He is married to a law school classmate, Atty. Corazon F. Arafol-Eleria who is now working as a Supreme Court Attorney. They have a wonderful boy, Ezekiel.
Romulo M. Abancio, Jr.
PHILJA Chief of Office for Training Center (General Manager)
PHILJA Training Center Office
Mr. Romulo M. Abancio, Jr., is the PHILJA Chief of Office (General Manager) for Training Center (PTC), PHILJA’s state of the art facility for its training programs and activities. Prior to his appointment on November 18, 2020, he was the SC Chief Judicial Staff Officer (SC CJSO) of the Corporate Planning Division (CPD), Administrative Office.
A Six Sigma Green Belt Certified and Career Executive Service Officer (CESO), Mr. Abancio earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Science degree at the West Visayas State University in Iloilo City and his Master of Arts in Governmental Management degree at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM). He also took units in Doctor in Public Management at PLM, units in law at the Arellano University School of Law and units in Hotel and Restaurant Management at the City College of Tagaytay.
A career employee, Mr. Abancio started working in the government as Clerk IV in the then Judicial Reforms Committee now Philippine Mediation Center Office, and later as Executive Assistant IV under Chancellor Justice Ameurfina A. Melencio Herrera. He was appointed on April 1, 2004, as the first PMC Unit Supervisor in Bacolod City, where he received a commendation for proposing and preparing the Guidelines for the Establishment of PMC Units and the criteria for the selection of sites. On October 1, 2004, he returned to the Office of the Chancellor as Executive Assistant V, until his promotion as SC CJSO of the CPD on March 26, 2008.
In August 2011, prior to the commencement of PTC operations, Mr. Abancio completed his training in hotel operations for housekeeping, security, sales and marketing, engineering, and purchasing at the Linden Suites.
He received the 2015 Philippine Judicial Academy Chancellor’s Award, the 2010 Communications Excellence Award, and the 2019 Commitment to Service Award under the Supreme Court’s Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (SC-PRAISE). He was also a finalist of the SC-PRAISE for Innovation (2010) and Leadership (2019) Awards.
He is happily married to Ms. Joyce Parra Abancio, currently working as Officer-in-Charge of the Cash Division, PHILJA Finance Office. They are blessed with one daughter, Santhia Gabrielle P. Abancio.