Conrado M. Vasquez
Encyclopedia
Conrado M. Vasquez was the first Ombudsman of the Philippines
and an Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
.
in 1937. After a brief stint in private practice, he first joined the government service as a lawyer with the Department of Justice
. Beginning in 1954, he would serve as a trial court judge in Batangas
and Manila
until his elevation to the Court of Appeals
in 1973. During that time, Vasquez would also teach law in several Manila law schools.
Ferdinand Marcos
as an Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
on May 14, 1982. He served on the Court for less than two years and was obliged to retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on September 3, 1983.
Vasquez was plucked out of retirement from government service during the term of President Corazon Aquino
. The 1987 Constitution
had created the Office of the Ombudsman
with jurisdiction in the investigation and discipline of public officials and government employees. In May 1988, President Aquino appointed the 74-year old Vasquez because of the Zaldivar doctrine of the Supreme Court. He would serve out the full 7-year term, finally retiring from public life in 1995. His daughter Leonora, served in the executive branch under various capacities during the administrations of Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada
.
Vasquez died on September 19, 2006, sixteen days after his 93rd birthday. At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving former Justice of the Supreme Court.
Philippine Ombudsman
The Ombudsman of the Philippines is an ombudsman responsible for investigating and prosecuting Philippine government officials accused of crimes....
and an Associate Justice
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is one of 15 members of the Philippine Supreme Court, the highest court in the Philippines. The Chief Justice presides over the High Court, but carries only 1 of the 15 votes in the court...
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
.
Early career
Vasquez earned his law degree from the University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
in 1937. After a brief stint in private practice, he first joined the government service as a lawyer with the Department of Justice
Department of Justice (Philippines)
The Department of Justice , abbreviated as DOJ, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for upholding the rule of law in the Philippines...
. Beginning in 1954, he would serve as a trial court judge in Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
and Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
until his elevation to the Court of Appeals
Philippine Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of the Philippines is the Philippines' second highest judicial court, just after the Supreme Court. The court consists of 68 Associate Justices and 1 Presiding Justice...
in 1973. During that time, Vasquez would also teach law in several Manila law schools.
Associate Justice, then Ombudsman
At the age of 68, Vasquez was appointed by PresidentPresident of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
as an Associate Justice
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is one of 15 members of the Philippine Supreme Court, the highest court in the Philippines. The Chief Justice presides over the High Court, but carries only 1 of the 15 votes in the court...
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
on May 14, 1982. He served on the Court for less than two years and was obliged to retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on September 3, 1983.
Vasquez was plucked out of retirement from government service during the term of President Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
. The 1987 Constitution
Constitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
had created the Office of the Ombudsman
Philippine Ombudsman
The Ombudsman of the Philippines is an ombudsman responsible for investigating and prosecuting Philippine government officials accused of crimes....
with jurisdiction in the investigation and discipline of public officials and government employees. In May 1988, President Aquino appointed the 74-year old Vasquez because of the Zaldivar doctrine of the Supreme Court. He would serve out the full 7-year term, finally retiring from public life in 1995. His daughter Leonora, served in the executive branch under various capacities during the administrations of Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
.
Vasquez died on September 19, 2006, sixteen days after his 93rd birthday. At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving former Justice of the Supreme Court.