Raul M. Gonzalez

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Raúl Maravilla González, is the current Secretary of Justice of the Philippines. He was appointed in 2004 by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Teaching career 3 Government service 3.1 Persona non grata 4 Political career 5 Private life 6 Health 6.1 Kidney transplant 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Early life and education

Gonzales is the fourth child of Delfin O. Gonzalez, the last mayor of the former town of Jaro in the province of Iloilo; and Estrella Jover Maravilla, a school teacher.

Gonzalez completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Colegio de San Agustin (now University of San Agustin) and his Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law in 1955.

Gonzales took the Philippine Bar Examination in 1955 and in the same year, passed with a grade of 99% in Remedial Law and 95% in International Law. He also topped the Judge Advocate General's Office (JAGO) Examinations.

[edit] Teaching career

After passing the Bar, Gonzalez became professor of law in the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, the Far Eastern University Institute of Law, and the Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines). He was also a professorial lecturer at the Philippine Normal University-Manila Graduate School, Assumption College and the College of Holy Spirit. He also lectured in the University of the Philippines Law Center Division of Continuing Legal Education.

[edit] Government service

Gonzales served in the Philippine government in various capacities. He started as a Legal Assistant to the Governor of Iloilo in 1960 before serving as Senior Legal Assistant to the Mayor of Manila in 1961. Gonzales was Executive Member of the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures under the Office of the President from 1963 to 1969, Senior Committee Counsel to the Committees on Labor and Immigration in the Philippine Senate, among others.

In 1989, Gonzalez was suspended by the Supreme Court from the practice of law for an indefinite period as a Tanodbayan for ignorance of the law.^[1][2] He denied that he asked the Supreme Court to lift his suspension but according to the decision, penned by Justice Campos, said otherwise:

After more than four [4] years from his suspension, on January 11, 1993 to be exact, respondent Raul M. Gonzales filed ex-parte Motion to lift his suspension from the practice of law, alleging the following: 1. that respondent gave free legal aid services to the poor and needy of Zambales and Iloilo, by paying lawyers to do the same as he could not personally represent said clients by reason of his suspension; 2. that during his years of suspension, he has pursued civic work, especially for the poor and displaced people in Zambales, during the height of Mt. Pinatubo eruption; 3. that he had participated in the Third International Dialog on the Transition to Global Society, at Landegg Academy in Wienacht, Switzerland and brought honor to the country by delivering a paper entitled, "The Meaning of Justice" cited by Mr. Justice Anthony Kennedy of the US Supreme Court as "one of the better papers presented and discussed at the conference;" 4. that respondent has a long record in the service of human rights and the rule of law, especially during the Martial Law years; 5. respondent pleads for his reinstatement to the practice of law because his suspension on for 51 months has been the longest in Philippine legal annals; 6. respondent states his profound regrets for the inconvenience which he has caused to the Court and to some of its members but he wishes to assure that he did not act with malice after thought, much less, with a desire to inflict harm on the tribunal; 7. respondent reiterates very sincerely his respect to the institution which is the Supreme Court as he reiterates his oath to conduct himself as a lawyer according to the best of his knowledge and discretion, with all good fidelity as well as to the Courts and to the clients and finally restating his fealty to the institution which is the Supreme Court which he has always respected as the ultimate bulwark of freedom, of the Rule of Law, of human rights and of equity and justice.^[3]

On August 15, 2007, Manila Assistant City Prosecutor Ferrer Co posted a cash bail of P20,000 on the two counts of libel Gonzales filed against him, pending at the sala of Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 26. Co admitted that he and Gonzales had disagreements about the National Prosecutors League of the Philippines.^[4]

On August 21, 2007, Raul Gonzalez branded as "inhuman" the continued incarceration of 14 soldiers sentenced for Benigno Aquino, Jr.'s death. The Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (BPP), under the Department of Justice (DOJ), recommended the grant of parole to the soldiers since 2004. Under the law, the convicted soldiers are eligible to parole after serving at least 12 years in prison. Gonzalez, handled the retrial of the soldiers in 1986 as Tanodbayan (Ombudsman) under Corazon Aquino, but did not finish it due to his suspension for 4 1/2 years. On December 2, 1985, the Sandiganbayan acquitted all the accused, but on October 16, 1990, Gonzalez, then Tanodbayan, handed out a guilty verdict and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua for each of the murders. The Supreme Court declared their conviction with finality on September 10, 1991.^[5]

After 4 years and 19th ad interim hearings, Gonzalez, on June 4, 2008 was finally confirmed (as Justice Secretary) by the Commission on Appointments' committee. His formal confirmation at the CA plenary session is set for June 11 amid militant lawmakers including Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza's oppositions.^[6]

[edit] Persona non grata

On January 16, 2008, Raul M. Gonzalez was declared "persona non grata" by the Press Photographers of the Philippines due to his media advisory against state journalists. It appealed to all its members, colleagues, writers and newspaper editors to boycott press conferences by Gonzalez. The secretary stated that he will ban press photographers from the Department of Justice.^[7]

[edit] Political career

Gonzales entered politics in 1995 when he handily won the lone congressional seat of Iloilo City. He was one of the public prosecutors during the impeachment trial of then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

In the 2004 election, he served as Co-chairman of the 14-man National Canvassing Board of the Philippine Congress. Later, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Gonzalez as Secretary of Justice.

He was hounded by vote-buying controversies after he promised barangay captains from the city of Iloilo to deliver 12-0 senatorial sweep for administration party in the midterm elections but to no avail. He also promised another cash incentives and free trip to Hong Kong if Iloilo City Council oppositionists Perla Zulueta and Lex Tupas will not make it to the top 12 but again to no avail.

On July 11, 2007, Gonzales sacked Prosecutor Emmanuel Velaso from the team investigating the April 28 abduction of activist Jonas Joseph Burgos, since the information provided by Velasco about the six military men allegedly involved in the abduction was inaccurate. Velasco, chairman of the Presidential Task Force Against Media Harassment, named six soldiers believed to be linked in the abduction of the 37-year-old activist from San Miguel, Bulacan - T/Sgt. Jason Roxas, Corporal Maria Joanna Francisco, M/Sgt. Aaron Arroyo, certain TL, who are all from the (Isafp), First Lt. Jaime Mendaros and Lt. Col. Clement of the 56th Infantry Battalion. Gonzalez, however, stressed that "it was unfair for the organization (Isafp) concerned" to be dragged into the case, when Isafp chief, Major General Delfin Bangit, already denied that these individuals were under the intelligence service.^[8]

[edit] Private life

Gonzalez is married to Dr. Pacita Trinidad, a former Representative of the second district of Zambales, with whom he has four children.

Their eldest son, Raul Gonzalez Jr., is the current Representative of Iloilo City. Another son is the current president of the National Book Development Board, an organization committed to upgrade the publishing industry in the Philippines.

[edit] Health

On August 3, 2007, Gonzalez, 76, was rushed to an undisclosed private hospital in Metro Manila due to severe ulcer attack that usually eats into the blood vessels and the blood seeping into the digestive tract. Gonzalez, 76, has taken up residence in Valle Verde in Pasig City. Kidney problem caused his trip to the hospital last April, and before assuming the post of Justice secretary in 2002, Gonzalez had undergone dialysis treatment. The last time he was hospitalized, Gonzalez was taken to the Dr. Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center (formerly Polymedic Hospital) on EDSA in Mandaluyong City, where his wife is a stockholder.^[9]

On August 31, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez’ request for one-month leave for medical reasons and designated Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera as officer-in-charge of the Department of Justice. In a photograph published by Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gonzalez was show being assisted by 2 aides as he took a seat during a meeting of the National Security Council in Malacañang.^[10]

On September 7, 2007, Gonzalez confirmed that Enrique Ona, National Kidney and Transplant Institute chief opined that the secretary needs a kidney transplant instead of constant dialysis. Gonzales had not yet decided to undergo any surgery. Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera was appointed acting justice secretary during Gonzalez’s sick leave.^[11]

[edit] Kidney transplant

On September 14, 2007, Raul Gonzalez, 76, underwent a successful 4-hour kidney transplant at the National Kidney Institute (with Felicito Gunay, 53, nicknamed "Muroy" his driver as kidney donor}. He was resting and in stable condition (6:00 p.m., Philippine time). Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera was appointed officer-in-charge of the Department of Justice effective September 1.^[12]Davao Congressman Prospero Nograles wanted the post of Gonzales, as a steppingstone to the Supreme Court of the Philippines.^[13][14][15]

On September 15, 2007, Gonzalez recovered from the kidney transplant (per medical bulletin of 11 a.m.: Gonzalez took the 4-hour operation - 8:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.; conducted at the (NKTI); and is in the recovery room with excellent kidney function with the new kidney; urine output of 6 liters, 20 hours; creatinine secretion of 1.5 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter; the normal is 1.3), he was fully awake, conversant and comfortabl; he is monitored for complications such as rejection, pneumonia))." He will be out of the intensive care unit on September 16, but would remain in the hospital until September 24. Based on NKTI records, Director Enrique Ona (who led Gonzalez' surgery team), stated that 98% of kidney recipients lived after a year, 93% survive after 3 years, and 83%, after 5 years. Prospero Nograles denied reports that he wanted Gonzalez' post to be Supreme Court Justice.^[16][17]

[edit] See also

• Escalante massacre

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• [1]
• [2]
• [3]
• [4]

Preceded by Rafael J. Lopez-Vito	Representative, Lone Congressional district of Iloilo City 1995-2004	Succeeded by Raul T. Gonzalez, Jr.
Preceded by Ma. Merceditas N. Gutierrez	Philippine Secretary of Justice September 1, 2004 – September 5, 2007	Succeeded by Agnes Devanadera
Preceded by Agnes Devanadera	Philippine Secretary of Justice November 2007 – present	Succeeded by 'incumbent'