MANILA, AUGUST 22, 2011 (STANDARD) COURT of Appeals Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes, who once served as finance manager of a security agency owned by President Aquino’s family, has been appointed as the newest Supreme Court justice.
Chief Justice Renato Corona told reporters Friday that Malacañang had transmitted Reyes’ appointment papers to the Supreme Court.
Reyes served as vice president and finance manager from 1987 to 1990 of Best Security Agency Inc., a security agency set up by Benigno Aquino III and his uncle, construction magnate Antolin Oreta,
The future Philippine president was the security agency’s vice-president, treasurer and director at the time.
Reyes, 64, was appointed Supreme Court justice despite having been reprimanded by the high court in 2008 for discourtesy in handling an intra-corporate case involving Manila Electric Co. and the Government Service Insurance System.
Reyes signed a decision favoring Manila Electric Co. even before Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Conrado Vasquez could decide which of the court’s two divisions should resolve the case.
The Meralco-GSIS case exposed serious ethical issues, prompting the Supreme Court to investigate accusations of bribery. Reyes then faced a Supreme Court panel that eventually reprimanded him for simple misconduct.
According to the Newsbreak magazine, two members of the Judicial and Bar Council did not vote for Reyes: Senator Francis Escudero and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas.
Aside from reprimanding him, the Supreme Court also admonished Reyes in 2001 for failing to immediately resolve a motion in a civil case.
Reyes’ appointment filled the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Eduardo Nachura and left only one seat unfilled—that vacated by Conchita Carpio-Morales. That vacancy remains to be filled by Malacañang from the following candidates submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council whose members are all Court of Appeals justices: Jose Reyes, Magdangal de Leon, Estela Bernabe, and Japar Dimaampao.
Reyes, 64, a native of Bulacan, finished law from the San Beda College in 1971 and passed the Bar that same year with a rating of 81.6 percent.
Reyes worked as vice president for legal and corporate affairs of the R.C. Silverio Group of Companies from 1975 to 1981. In 1982 he founded the law firm Reyes, Daway, Lim, Bernardo and Lindo in Makati.
He acted as chairman, director, president or corporate secretary of various corporations including the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. and Celebrity Sports Plaza.
Reyes was appointed judge of the Malabon Regional Trial Court in 1990 during the presidency of Corazon Aquino. He was later appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2000 by then President Joseph Estrada.
Reyes was born on July 6, 1947, in Obando, Bulacan, to spouses Fidel Reyes and Timotea Lorenzo Reyes. He is married to Teresita Jacinta Reyes by whom he has two sons.
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