Alfredo Benipayo

Alfredo Benipayo
Chairman of the Commission on Elections
In office February 19, 2001 – June 04, 2002
Appointed by	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	Harriet Demetriou
Succeeded by	Benjamin Abalos
Solicitor General of the Philippines
In office October 17, 2002 – March 31, 2006
Appointed by	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	Carlos N. Ortega(Acting)
Succeeded by	Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura
Personal details
Born	December 10, 1938 Manila, Commonwealth of the Philippines
Nationality	Filipino

Alfredo Logronio Benipayo (born December 10, 1938) is the former Dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, the oldest law school in the Philippines. He is a former magistrate and a respected law professor and bar reviewer in the country.

Early life and education

Benipayo was born in Manila. His parents are Celedonio A. Benipayo, who was born in Polangui, Albay and Amada Logronio, from Bacon, Sorsogon. He is married to Rowena Hizon Castro, daughter of the late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Fred Ruiz Castro, 1976-1979. At Diliman, Quezon City, the spouses Benipayo, are blessed with children Maria Cristina (Tina), Alfredo Ramon, Jr. (Oggie), Maria Beatrice Regina (Triccie), Maria Bianca Rebecca (Becca) and Maria Elissa Veronica (Rica).

Benipayo graduated elementary at Francisco Balagtas Elementary School (1945–1950), and high school at the University of Santo Tomas (1950–1954). He earned his Bachelor of Arts, at UST (1954–1958) Magna Cum Laude, and his Bachelor of Laws(LL.B.) degree from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (1958–1962), Cum Laude.^[1] He passed the Philippine Bar Examination on September, 1962 with 79.5% bar rating.

Career

Benipayo has practiced law for several years. From February, 1963 to December, 1972, he was Associate Attorney of the Jose W. Diokno Law Office, and Senior Partner, from January 1, 1973 to October 5, 1974 of the Reyes & Benipayo Law Office. He was appointed District Judge; V-EJ CFI, Malolos, Bulacan from October 6, 1974 to July 2, 1976. He became a District Judge, CFI, Manila from July 3, 1976 to January 17, 1983, and President Judge, RTC, Manila From January 18, 1973 to February 3, 1987.

From February 4, 1987 to October 29, 1996, he was an Associate Justice of the Philippine Court of Appeals, the second highest judicial court in the Philippines, next only to the Supreme Court. On October 30, 1996 to February 15, 2001, Benipayo was later appointed as Court Administrator of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, an office tasked to oversee the operations of the highest judicial court in the country. From February 16, 2001 to June 5, 2002, he was later appointed as Chairman of the Philippine Commission on Elections, an independent agency handling all local and national elections in the country. He was succeeded by Benjamin Abalos. Failing to get the Senate of the Philippines Commission of Appointment's confirmation, Benipayo was not re-appointed Chair of the COMELEC and instead was named Solicitor General by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, on October 16, 2002, as the official lawyer of the Philippine government and all its branches. In April 2006, Benipayo tendered his resignation from this post.

The Judicial and Bar Council nominated Benipayo for the Supreme Court of the Philippines Associate Justice post, 7 times, but he failed to sit upon the coveted golden throne. On April 1, 2006, Alfredo L. Benipayo tendered his resignation amidst a series of controversies.^[2][3]

Academe

Benipayo has been teaching Law as Associate Professor at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (since 1963) and other law schools and bar review centers in the country. In 2007, he was appointed as Dean of the Faculty. He is also the Chairman of the Remedial Law Department at the Philippine Judicial Academy, the official training school of justices, judges, and judiciary candidates in the country.^[4]

References

1. Faculty profile, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, 2007.
2. www.mb.com.ph, Solicitor General Alfredo Benipayo submits resignation
3. news.bbc.co.uk, Top Philippines lawyer quits post
4. tan.org.ph, APPLICANTS TO THE SUPREME COURT ASSOCIATE JUSTICE POST

External links

• University of Santo Tomas
• Supreme Court of the Philippines
• Commission on Elections of the Philippines