Malacanang has appointed professors and alumni of the UNO-R School of Law to be judges in the different Regional Trial Courts in the City.
The new Judges are Hon. Fernand A Castro, RTC, Branch 41, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Hon. Maria Lina Gonzaga- RTC, Branch 42, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental – Election Court ; Honorable Maria Mercedes Odango – Saril – RTC Branch 80, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; and Ferdinand Elbert Jomilla- RTC, Branch 79, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.
Castro, Gonzaga and Odango-Saril are professors in the UNO-R School of Law. Jomilla and Odango-Saril are alumni of UNO-R.
Judge Odango – Saril earned her Political Science and Ll. B degrees from the university and is pursuing her Master of Laws Degree at UNO-R in consortium with San Sebastian College – Recoletos, Manila Graduate School of Law under the University Law Faculty Development program. She was UNOSSGO President in 2000-2001; Leadership Awardee, a bemedaled member of the UNO-R Chess Varsity Team from 1997-2001 and 2001 UNO-R Athlete of the Year. She was also awarded as Best Speaker in the 2003 Grand Debate (law Schools) held in Dumaguete.
Meanwhile, Judge Jomilla makes history as the first alumnus of UNO-R AB Philosophy to be appointed as RTC Judge. He graduated Magna cum laude in 1987. He was a 1987 The Outstanding Student (THOS) awardee. He was also the Tolentine Star editor-in-chief 2nd sem of 1984-85; 1985-86 and 1986-87.