Not just one but two of the new judges appointed by the Supreme Court to the two Regional Trial Court branches in Virac are native Catandunganons.
Following in the steps of the late former RTC Judge Romulo Atencia of Bagamanoc are newly assumed RTC Branch 42 Presiding Judge Maria Theresa Alcantara Cerillo of Pandan town and RTC Branch 43 Presiding Judge Irwin Lobina Peña of Panganiban, who were both veteran prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Virac prior to their selection by Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
They were among the new judges for first and second-level courts appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last September 2025, with the list released only last Jan. 12, 2026.
Judge Cerillo, 45, the daughter of former Pandan Municipal Councilor Ulpindo Alberto Cerillo and retired public school teacher Yolanda Alcantara Cerillo, excelled in her younger years, having completed high school as valedictorian.
After obtaining her undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Communication Arts, major in Journalism, as cum laude graduate at Bicol University in 2001, she finished her Law degree at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law and then passed the Bar examination in 2007.
The following year, she worked as Public Attorney II at the Quezon City District Office where she stayed for the next eight years before transferring to Virac as Public Prosecutor until her appointment as RTC judge.
Last Jan. 13, 2026, she took her oath before Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro Javier.
Joining Cerillo at the Virac Hall of Justice is RTC Branch 43 Presiding Judge Irwin Peña, 40, who was born in Pasay City to former Panganiban Municipal Councilor Ricardo “Paroy” Peña and Maria Diana Lobina Peña.
Describing himself as just a regular student, he secured his undergraduate degree from the University of the Philippines in 2006 and entered law school at San Beda University where he graduated in 2012.
Upon passing the Bar exam the following year, the new lawyer worked for De Borja Lamorena and Duano Law Office in 2014 before becoming a lawyer and acting Board Secretary of the National Food Authority.
In 2022, he returned to Catanduanes and became part of the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Virac until his recent appointment.
He is a professor at the Catanduanes State University College of Law and has been part of the academe, teaching in various colleges and universities in Metro Manila since 2015.
A frequent traveler, he is also into hiking and nature tripping.
Judge Peña said his judicial advocacy would focus on restorative justice, a drug-free Catanduanes, and strengthening the barangay justice system, while ensuring fairness and impartiality.
Having initiated the 1st Provincial Prosecutor Irwin L. Peña Badminton Invitational Tournament in Panganiban, he is planning to hold the first Judge Irwin L. Peña Badminton Cup.
Another former prosecutor from DOJ Catanduanes office is newly assumed Tabaco City RTC Branch 15 Presiding Judge Carlo Martin Abion Adille.
A 2005 Bar passer, he was a former Regional Associate Prosecutor before being appointed as Presiding Jude of the Baras-Gigmoto Municipal Circuit Trial Court.