MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Hon. Edilwasif Tapsiril Baddiri and Hon. Jeoffre Willkom Acebido as Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals (CA), bolstering the appellate court with experienced jurists from Mindanao.
The appointment papers, dated February 24, 2025, fill the vacancies left by retired Associate Justices Edwin D. Sorongon and Victoria Isabel A. Paredes.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo administered the oaths of office in separate ceremonies at the Supreme Court in Manila: Justice Baddiri on April 11, 2025, at the Session Hall, and Justice Acebido on April 14, 2025, at the Dignitaries’ Lounge.
Justice Baddiri is a full-blooded Tausug from the Municipality of Indanan, Sulu Province. He brings extensive public service and judicial experience to the CA. He served as Presiding Judge and Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Pasay City, and as Commissioner of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) from 2010 to 2015.
A member of the Philippine Bar and an alumnus of Ateneo de Manila University Law School, Justice Baddiri also holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University. He currently serves as Interim President of the Philippine Muslim Judges Association, advocating for inclusivity and judicial excellence. He is the fifth Tausug to serve as a Justice of the Court of Appeals.
Justice Acebido, formerly Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 41 in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, has over 16 years of judicial service. He received the Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano Award for Judicial Excellence and has a background in
prosecution, public defense, and human rights advocacy as a senior legal officer at the Commission on Human Rights.
The Court of Appeals, the nation’s second-highest judicial tribunal, plays a crucial role in reviewing decisions from lower courts and quasi-judicial bodies. The appointments of Justices Baddiri and Acebido are expected to strengthen the CA with their diverse experience, regional representation, and commitment to judicial reform.
