Joker Arroyo
Encyclopedia
Joker Paz Arroyo is a Filipino lawyer, politician and Senator of the Republic
of the Philippines
. He has no direct relation with former Presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo
.
but Joker also lived with his brother, Nonito at Baao, Camarines Sur
. His name "Joker" derives from his father's fondness for card playing. Jack is the name for his brother.
He completed his elementary education at the Naga Elementary School in Naga, Camarines Sur
and secondary education at the Camarines Sur High School also in Naga. He gained a scholarship at the University of the Philippines
and obtained the title Bachelor of Arts, and in 1952, his Bachelor of Laws from the College of Law
. He also obtained his AAPL at the Ateneo de Manila University
. He started his professional career as lawyer in 1953. Most of his clients belong to the middle class and low income families.
Ferdinand Marcos
declared Proclamation 1081, placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law
. Arroyo was the very first lawyer to challenge the act before the Supreme Court
and questioned its legality under the 1935 Philippine Constitution.
He and other lawyers joined in questioning other Marcos' acts before the Supreme Court: 1) the ratification of the Marcos-dictated 1973 Constitution; 2) amendment Six that empowered President Marcos to exercise law making powers alongside the Batasang Pambansa; 3) the power of military tribunals to try civilians.
Arroyo participated in the trials of political detainees such as Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
, ABS-CBN Executive Eugenio Lopez, Jr.
, Cebu politician Sergio Osmeña III, Communist Party of the Philippines founder and University of the Philippines Professor Jose Maria Sison
, Senators Jovito Salonga
and Eva Kalaw, lawyers Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Renato Tañada, Eduardo Olaguer and many others.
He actively participated in street demonstrations. He was gassed, injured and hospitalized during protest rallies and incarcerated in a military stockade. He was one of the founders of the civic group MABINI and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).
When Corazon Aquino
decided to challenge Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 Snap Presidential Election, Arroyo served as Counsel of Cory Aquino during the snap election. During the first EDSA Revolution, he served as one Aquino's key advisers.
sparked the September 1987 coup attempt initiated by rebel military leaders. Due to intense pressure from the Philippine Congress the following months, Aquino accepted Arroyo's resignation.
He held various post in the government service first as Executive Secretary in the Aquino cabinet from 1986 to 1987, then as Chairman of the Philippine National Bank and as Executive Director for the Philippines in the Asian Development Bank from 1986 to 1990.
Arroyo has received various awards and commendations for his significant contributions to the law profession and public service. Among these are the Philippine Bar Association’s Most Distinguished Award for Justice as a “man beholden to no one except to his country” and a Senate Resolution No. 100 enacted in the 8th Congress commending him for his invaluable services to the Filipino people.
On November 2000, he was one of the last congressmen who signed the endorsement for the impeachment of President
Joseph Estrada
. He was voted as the Lead Prosecutor for the Impeachment Trial on December 2000. He fought for the opening of the second bank envelope and present it as a critical evidence for the prosecution of Estrada. The Senate voted down his request and it led to the second EDSA Revolution. His role in the impeachment trial earned him as one of preferred choice in the SWS and Pulse Asia survey for the Senate race. The new government, led by President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo convinced Congressman Arroyo to run for the Senate. Arroyo received a huge number of votes from the electorate.
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He has no direct relation with former Presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo
Jose Miguel Arroyo
Jose Miguel "Mike" Tuason Arroyo is a former First Gentleman of the Philippines. He is the husband of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the former President of the Philippines and the current Congresswoman of Pampanga 2nd District....
.
Early life and career
Joker was born on January 5, 1927 in Naga, Camarines SurCamarines Sur
Camarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south...
but Joker also lived with his brother, Nonito at Baao, Camarines Sur
Baao, Camarines Sur
Baao is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 52,466 people.-Barangays :Baao is politically subdivided into 30 barangays.-Schools:...
. His name "Joker" derives from his father's fondness for card playing. Jack is the name for his brother.
He completed his elementary education at the Naga Elementary School in Naga, Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur
Camarines Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Pili and the province borders Camarines Norte and Quezon to the north, and Albay to the south...
and secondary education at the Camarines Sur High School also in Naga. He gained a scholarship at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
and obtained the title Bachelor of Arts, and in 1952, his Bachelor of Laws from the College of Law
University of the Philippines College of Law
University of the Philippines College of Law or UP Law is the law school of the University of the Philippines. Since 1948, it has been located at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, the flagship campus of UP's seven constituent universities. Until the 1970s, night classes of...
. He also obtained his AAPL at the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
. He started his professional career as lawyer in 1953. Most of his clients belong to the middle class and low income families.
Martial Law
On September 23, 1972, 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...
declared Proclamation 1081, placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
. Arroyo was the very first lawyer to challenge the act before the Supreme Court
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...
and questioned its legality under the 1935 Philippine Constitution.
He and other lawyers joined in questioning other Marcos' acts before the Supreme Court: 1) the ratification of the Marcos-dictated 1973 Constitution; 2) amendment Six that empowered President Marcos to exercise law making powers alongside the Batasang Pambansa; 3) the power of military tribunals to try civilians.
Arroyo participated in the trials of political detainees such as Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
, ABS-CBN Executive Eugenio Lopez, Jr.
Eugenio Lopez, Jr.
Eugenio Lopez, Jr. , popularly known as Geny and Kapitan, was the Chairman Emeritus of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.-Early life and career:...
, Cebu politician Sergio Osmeña III, Communist Party of the Philippines founder and University of the Philippines Professor Jose Maria Sison
José María Sison
Jose Maria Sison is a writer and activist who reorganized the Communist Party of the Philippines and added elements of Maoism to its philosophy....
, Senators Jovito Salonga
Jovito Salonga
Jovito "Jovy" Reyes Salonga is a Filipino nationalist politician and lawyer, as well as a leading opposition leader during the Marcos regime from 1972, when Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, until 1986, when Marcos was deposed as a result of a bloodless revolution...
and Eva Kalaw, lawyers Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Renato Tañada, Eduardo Olaguer and many others.
He actively participated in street demonstrations. He was gassed, injured and hospitalized during protest rallies and incarcerated in a military stockade. He was one of the founders of the civic group MABINI and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).
When 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...
decided to challenge Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 Snap Presidential Election, Arroyo served as Counsel of Cory Aquino during the snap election. During the first EDSA Revolution, he served as one Aquino's key advisers.
Aquino Presidency
Arroyo was appointed as Executive Secretary and he was one of the first appointees of Corazon Aquino after she was inaugurated in Club Filipino in San Juan. Arroyo served as Aquino's alter ego in her issuance of Executive Orders (formerly Presidential Decrees). These include the creation of the Family Code, Presidential Commission on Good Government, creation of the 1986 Freedom Constitution, and the removal of local government officials & appointment of Officers-In-Charge. One Aquino decision, the freedom of Communist leader Jose Maria SisonJosé María Sison
Jose Maria Sison is a writer and activist who reorganized the Communist Party of the Philippines and added elements of Maoism to its philosophy....
sparked the September 1987 coup attempt initiated by rebel military leaders. Due to intense pressure from the Philippine Congress the following months, Aquino accepted Arroyo's resignation.
He held various post in the government service first as Executive Secretary in the Aquino cabinet from 1986 to 1987, then as Chairman of the Philippine National Bank and as Executive Director for the Philippines in the Asian Development Bank from 1986 to 1990.
Arroyo has received various awards and commendations for his significant contributions to the law profession and public service. Among these are the Philippine Bar Association’s Most Distinguished Award for Justice as a “man beholden to no one except to his country” and a Senate Resolution No. 100 enacted in the 8th Congress commending him for his invaluable services to the Filipino people.
House of Representatives
Arroyo ran independent for the position of Congressman in the lone district of Makati in 1992. He was a popular figure in the House of Representatives with a 100% attendance record for 9 years from the time he was elected up to the end of his last term. He was in caucus with the PDP-Laban. His passed several national bills and some local bills like the creation of the City of Makati and the second district of Makati. When the lone district of Makati City was divided into two, he ran for the first district in 1998.On November 2000, he was one of the last congressmen who signed the endorsement for the impeachment of President
President 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...
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...
. He was voted as the Lead Prosecutor for the Impeachment Trial on December 2000. He fought for the opening of the second bank envelope and present it as a critical evidence for the prosecution of Estrada. The Senate voted down his request and it led to the second EDSA Revolution. His role in the impeachment trial earned him as one of preferred choice in the SWS and Pulse Asia survey for the Senate race. The new government, led by President
President 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...
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo convinced Congressman Arroyo to run for the Senate. Arroyo received a huge number of votes from the electorate.