New breed of lawyers are now serving the province as they join Provincial Legal Office (PLO) at the Provincial Capitol recently.

Provincial Legal Officer Mark Anthony Padayhag formally introduced his new comrades at the PLO to fellow Provincial Government employees as his office hosted the Flag Raising Ceremony last June 8.

They are lady lawyers Gia Luy Ariosa and Stahrl Kristine Guadalquiver Montealto, both 26 year olds with Benison M. Mahawan, 27, to compose the battery of lawyers of the Cerilles Administration at the ward of Provincial Legal Officer Padayhag and Assistant Provincial Legal Officer Carlos Madarang.

Ariosa, Montealto and Mahawan were among the 1,310 successful examinees of the 3,364 who took the BAR examinations given by the Supreme Court on September 2008.  

Atty. Ariosa obtained her Bachelor of Laws at Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City after she finished Bachelor of Business Administration major in Management at Silliman University, Dumaguete City. 

She is a niece of Vice Governor Roseller L. Ariosa to his brother George and sister-in-law former Ms. Asuncion Luy.  She is the youngest of 5 siblings (all female) and is the third lawyer in the family.  Her two older sisters are with the Department of Justice – Atty. Georgina Ariosa-Lopez and Atty. Geraldine Ariosa- Edralin while sisters - Giselle is a pharmacist and Girlie is a nutritionist-dietician, respectively.

Atty. Montealto, on the other hand, graduated Law at the University of the East, Manila after completing Bachelor of Arts in Legal Management, Far Eastern University, Nicanor Reyes Educational Foundation, also in Manila.

She is a daughter of Provincial Budget Officer Rogelio Montealto and former president of the  JH Cerilles State College.

Lawyer Benison Mahawan hails from Molave, this province. Like Ariosa, he got his undergraduate course at Silliman University, however, his course was Bachelor of Business Computer Administration.  He finished his Bachelor of Laws at San Carlos University, CebuCity.

As Padayhag assumed office in April last year, he exposed the ideal set up of a provincial legal office with 3 legal officers and at least 5 legal researchers. 

Currently, it has five to include himself but lone legal researcher – Romulo Enerio. 

Padayhag cited specific functions of the legal officers like to act as liaison officer to the different departments of the provincial government. A lawyer who will conduct investigation and handling administrative matters, another one to review legislative acts and one who will assist in the procurement specifically at the bids and awards level, COA among others.

Nonetheless, the PLO is mandated to defend the interests and assets of the versys anyone or party disadvantageous to the Provincial Government.

Padayhag said having additional three lawyers would lighten his workload as his office continuously serve the people of the province according to its mandate.   (Remai S. Alejado/Zambosur Press Bureau)

Last update: 11-06-2009 10:54