Malaca?ang Friday named a new head of the Sandiganbayan, the national anti-graft court that has jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases involving government officials. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said acting Sandiganbayan presiding justice Edilberto Sandoval has been appointed the new presiding justice of the court. As the most senior in the court, Sandoval became the acting presiding justice when Presiding Justice Norberto Geraldez died of pancreatic cancer complications in April. In a later report, dzBB said Sandoval took his oath of office before Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, shortly after Malaca?ang announced Sandoval's appointment. Sandoval was one of the eight nominees for the post the Judicial Bar Council, the body that screens nominees for vacant judicial posts, announced last July. The seven others were: Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz, SC deputy court administrator Nimfa Vilches, SC deputy court administrator Edwin Villasor, Regional Trial Court judge Renato Francisco (Malolos) and Regional Trial Court judge Pedro Corales (Pasay). Sandoval was also a nominee for the post Reynato Puno vacated when he retired last May as Supreme Court Chief Justice. The post ultimately went to Corona, then SC associate justice, who was appointed by former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The Sandiganbayan presiding justice has a crucial role in the Aquino administration, which repeatedly vowed to weed out corrupt officials in government. Aquino's electoral victory was hinged on the promise to stamp out corruption to end poverty, a vow encapsulated in his campaign slogan of “Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap.” Sandoval graduated cum laude and class valedictorian at the Far Eastern University (FEU) in 1963. He first engaged in private law practice until his appointment as a regional trial court judge in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, in 1983.
