MANILA - President Aquino has appointed a regional trial court (RTC) judge as new Court of Appeals (CA) magistrate.

Roxas City RTC Branch 17 Judge Edward B. Contreras' appointment to the CA is dated February 26 but Malacanan trasmitted his appointment papers to the Supreme Court (SC) only on Thursday.

"I am pleased to transmit the appointment paper of Hon. Edward Contreras as Associate Justice, Court of Appeals... signed by His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III," the transmittal from Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr read.

Contreras hails from Panay, Capiz.

He finished his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the Philippines-Iloilo in 1979.

He finished his law degree in 1987 at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) and passed the bar in 1990.

Contreras served as Pasic RTC court interpreter in 1984, and served in the CA as a confidential assistant in 1988.

He joined the SC as a court attorney in 1990.