Judge who acquitted De Lima is new Sandiganbayan justice

Gener Malaluan Gito, the judge who acquitted former senator Leila de Lima, has been appointed as a new associate justice of the Sandiganbayan.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Supreme Court said that Gito and J. Ermin Ernest Louie Ramirez were appointed to the Sandiganbayan on October 8.

The Supreme Court welcomes two new Justices appointed to the Sandiganbayan on October 8, 2024. These are Associate Justices Gener Malaluan Gito and J. Ermin Ernest Louie Ramirez Miguel.

Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin transmitted their appointment papers to the Office of… pic.twitter.com/sdqv17pzqv

— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) October 10, 2024

Gito was the presiding judge of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 206.

He allowed De Lima to post bail on her last drug case in November 2023, almost seven years after she was detained.

Gito later granted her demurrer to evidence, effectively dismissing her third and final drug case. He also denied the appeal filed by prosecutors against the dismissal.

Meanwhile, Ramirez was the presiding judge of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 281.

The SC said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin transmitted their appointment papers to the Office of the Chief Justice on October 9

The Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases involving graft and corrupt practices and other offenses committed by public officers and employees, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), in relation to their office.—AOL, GMA Integrated News