Vitaliano Aguirre II
| Vitaliano Aguirre II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Secretary of Justice | |
|
Assumed office June 30, 2016 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Emmanuel Caparas (acting) |
| Vice President for Legal Affairs of Clark Development Corporation | |
|
In office March 16, 2013 – June 30, 2016 | |
| President | Benigno Aquino III |
| Preceded by | Atty. Perlita M. Sagmit |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Vitaliano Napeñas Aguirre II October 16, 1946 Mulanay, Quezon, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party |
|
| Spouse(s) | Marissa Lim |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | San Beda College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Vitaliano "Vit" Napeñas Aguirre II (born October 16, 1946)[1] is a Filipino lawyer from Quezon. On May 18, 2016, he was nominated as Secretary of the Department of Justice under President Rodrigo Duterte, which he accepted on the same day.[2] He previously served as Vice President and chief legal counsel of Clark Development Corporation under former President Benigno Aquino III.[3] He gained wide public attention in 2012 during the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona when he was cited for contempt after he was caught covering his ears while being lectured by the late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.[4]
Early life and education
Aguirre was born and raised in the municipality of Mulanay, the son of Alfaro G. Aguirre and Maria Napeñas. His father was a former mayor of the town who also served as Liberal Party chairman for almost 40 years.[4] The eldest of 9 children, he attended the Mulanay Elementary School and graduated as class valedictorian in 1959. His family then moved to Manila where he received his high school and college education. He was a full scholar at San Beda College, graduating magna cum laude with a BA in 1967.[1] He then pursued legal studies at San Beda College of Law where he was a classmate of Rodrigo Duterte. He finished law school as valedictorian and cum laude of Class 1971. He passed the bar examination the same year.[3]
Career
Aguirre has been in private practice for many years. He established a law firm in Makati with partners Rodolfo Robles, Sixto Brillantes, Jose Ricafrente, Antonio Nachura and Antonio San Vicente. He served as the lead counsel of Hubert Webb in the 1995 Vizconde murders case and as deputy counsel of the Feliciano Commission's fact-finding investigation of the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. During the impeachment trial of Renato Corona, he was tapped as one of several private prosecutors tasked to secure the Chief Justice's conviction.[4]
Aguirre is currently a managing partner at Aguirre & Aguirre Law Office. He also teaches law at the Arellano University Law Foundation.[4] In March 2013, he assumed the post of Vice President for Legal Affairs of the government-owned Clark Development Corporation.[5]
Aguirre was also a lawyer for then Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. He served as the latter's chief legal counsel on the cases seeking to disqualify Duterte during the 2016 presidential campaign, as well as on cases linking the President to the Davao death squads. He likewise represented a policeman who owned a quarry site turned into a firing range where remains of supposed victims of these alleged death squads were believed to have been buried.[6][7]
References
- 1 2 "Maikling Sariling Talambuhay ni Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre II". Balitang Kamhantik. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ↑ "Vitaliano Aguirre is Duterte's secretary of justice". GMA News. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- 1 2 "The Duterte Cabinet". Interaksyon. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Dalangin-Fernandez, L. (29 February 2012). "Lawyer who dared cross Miriam no stranger to controversy". Interaksyon. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ↑ Cervantes, D. (25 February 2013). "Corona prosecutor to assume CDC post". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ↑ Punay, Edu (July 9, 2016). "Aguirre now prober of evil". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ↑ "Judge quashes CHR search warrant". Retrieved 2016-09-20.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Emmanuel Caparas Acting |
Secretary of Justice 2016–present |
Incumbent |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Carlos Dominguez III as Secretary of Finance |
Order of Precedence of the Philippines as Secretary of Justice |
Succeeded by Emmanuel Piñol as Secretary of Agriculture |