Ex-VM Cabalit gets MCTC judge seat

TRUE to the deals he proposed in exchange of throwing his hat in the local arenas, former City Vice Mayor Jorge Cabalit was recently appointed judge of the 20th municipal circuit trial court for Catigbian-San Isidro-Sagbayan. Cabalit's appointment to the judiciary also ended speculations that he would be running for city mayor of the City of Tagbilaran for the May 14, 2007 elections.

A native of Cogon District, Tagbilaran, Cabalit was the frontrunner in the May, 2004 elections for city mayor of Tagbilaran, but lost to incumbent Mayor Dan Neri-Lim in a five-cornered mayoralty fight. Cabalit served for two terms as city councilor from 1988-1995 and served for three terms as vice mayor from 1995-2004. Prior to his appointment, Cabalit has been a practicing lawyer for about 27 years. He was secretary of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Bohol chapter from 1979-1981, director from 2005-2006, and was elected vice president last February.

Cabalit finished his Bachelor of Laws (Ll.B.) at the University of Bohol in March, 1978 and passed the Bar Examinations given by the Supreme Court in November of the same year. He completed the Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science and minor in English at the University of Bohol in March, 1974 (magna cum laude). He completed all academic requirements for Master of Arts (M.A.) in English.

He was the editor-in-chief of the Varsitarian from 1974-1975 and president of the UB Supreme Student Government from April-June, 1984. He was also president of the UBSSG Constitutional Convention in June, 1984. Cabalit is a unit leader of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals and district deputy of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines . He was editor of the defunct Bohol Newsweek from 1986-1988. Since then he has been a columnist of the Bohol Chronicle writing for the column, “Viewpoints. He was the first president of the Association of Writers and Radio Announcers. He is married to the former Carmen Juyad of Buenos Aires , Carmen, Bohol and has three children, namely: George Paul, Joel Cloyd, and Jordan.

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