Gener Gito
Gener Gito | |
|---|---|
| 75th Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan | |
| Assumed office October 10, 2024 | |
| Appointed by | Ferdinand Marcos Jr. |
| Preceded by | Oscar Herrera, Jr. |
| RTC, Br. 206, Muntinlupa City | |
| In office December 2, 2019 – October 10, 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gener Malaluan Gito |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Alma mater | University of Batangas (BA, Political Science) San Sebastian College–Recoletos (JD) Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (LL.M.) University of Santo Tomas (Doctor of Civil Law, summa cum laude) |
| Occupation | Judge, professor |
| Awards | Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano Award for Judicial Excellence (2019) |
Gener Malaluan Gito (born July 17, 1971) is a Filipino lawyer, educator, and politician who currently serves as an Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan. He was appointed to the position by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on October 10, 2024.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Prior to his appointment, Gito was the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa City, Branch 206.[9]
Early life and education
Gener M. Gito is a native of Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.[10]
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Batangas and his Juris Doctor from San Sebastian College–Recoletos. After a decade in active litigation, he pursued further studies, completing his Master of Laws at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila with a thesis titled Chipping Off Executive Privilege: A Legislative Dilemma, graded "Excellent" by a panel headed by Justice Vicente V. Mendoza. He later obtained his Doctor of Civil Law degree from the University of Santo Tomas, graduating summa cum laude in 2016.[11]
Political career
In 2004, he was elected town councilor of Victoria, Oriental Mindoro.[12]
Judicial career
He first served as executive assistant and court attorney of the Court of Appeals from 1995 to 1998, and was also chief of the Senate’s legal and legislative service from 2008 to 2014.[12]
Gito served as Presiding Judge of the RTC, Branch 92, Balanga City, Bataan, and as Vice Executive Judge. Noted for significantly reducing his court’s case backlog, he was designated Acting Presiding Judge of RTC Malolos, Branch 84, and Pairing Judge of Branch 83. He later served as Acting Presiding Judge of RTC Muntinlupa, Branch 256, before his appointment in 2020 to RTC Muntinlupa, Branch 206 on December 2, 2019[9][13]
In November 2023, Gito granted bail to former Senator Leila de Lima in her last drug case and, in June 2024, acquitted her after granting a demurrer to evidence.[14][15]
On October 10, 2024, President Marcos appointed him Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan.[14][16]
Academic career
Alongside his judicial duties, Gito has taught Constitutional Law and Remedial Law at various Philippine law schools, including University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Sebastian College, University of Asia and the Pacific, Bulacan State University, Tarlac State University, University of Perpetual Help, and Lyceum of the Philippines University. He is also a Bar reviewer, MCLE lecturer, and member of the Philippine Judicial Academy.
Personal life
His wife is the Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, Hon. Emily San Gaspar-Gito.[17]
Awards and recognition
In 2019, Gito received the Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano Award for Judicial Excellence from the Society for Judicial Excellence, recognizing him as the most outstanding RTC judge in the Philippines.[18]
He was also named the country’s Most Outstanding RTC Judge.[12]
References
- ^ Bolledo, Jairo (October 10, 2024). "Judge who freed De Lima appointed as Sandiganbayan justice". Rappler. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Mangaluz, Jean (October 10, 2024). "Judge that acquitted De Lima appointed to Sandiganbayan". Philippine Star. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Ayalin, Adrian (October 10, 2024). "Judge who acquitted De Lima appointed Sandiganbayan justice". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Cabato, Luisa (October 10, 2024). "Judge in De Lima drug raps acquittal joins Sandiganbayan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Kabagani, Lade Jean (October 10, 2024). "Judge who acquitted De Lima now in Sandigan". Daily Tribune. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Maralit, Kristina (October 11, 2024). "Marcos names new Sandiganbayan justices". The Manila Times. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Chavez, Pot (October 10, 2024). "Sandigan names 2 new associate justices". Manila Standard. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Hachero, Ashzel (October 11, 2024). "Judge who cleared De Lima appointed to Sandiganbayan". Malaya Business Insight. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b Cruz, James Patrick (November 13, 2023). "De Lima case: Who is Judge Gener Gito?". Rappler. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ "Mindoro pride! Doy Leachon congratulates new Sandiganbayan Justice Gener Gito". Politiko Bicol. October 10, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ The Varsitarian Staff (October 11, 2024). "UST law prof named new Sandiganbayan justice". The Varsitarian. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Judge in de Lima case named to antigraft court". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 11, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ "New Judicial Appointments". Judicial and Bar Council. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b Esguerra, Darryl John (October 10, 2024). "Judge in De Lima case appointed Sandiganbayan justice". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Buan, Lian (November 13, 2023). "Leila de Lima gets bail, freedom soon". Rappler. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ Hicap, Jonathan (October 28, 2024). "New Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gener Gito honored in Muntinlupa". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ "CALESA Speakers". Philippine Judicial Academy. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ "Chief Justice Cayetano Arellano Award for Judicial Excellence recipients named". Philippine News Agency. 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2025.