Ramon Caguicla Aquino (August 31, 1917 – March 31, 1993) was the 15th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
Ramon C. Aquino | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 15th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines | |
| In office November 20, 1985 – March 6, 1986 | |
| Appointed by | Ferdinand E. Marcos |
| Preceded by | Felix Makasiar |
| Succeeded by | Claudio Teehankee |
| 90th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines | |
| In office October 29, 1973 – November 19, 1985 | |
| Appointed by | Ferdinand E. Marcos |
| Preceded by | Newly created seat |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Yap |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 31, 1917 Lemery, Batangas, Philippine Islands |
| Died | March 31, 1993 (aged 75) Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Spouse | Carolina Griño |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines |
He was appointed on November 20, 1985, the last Chief Justice appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos.
Personal life
editAquino was born on August 31, 1917, in Lemery, Batangas, to Luciano Aquino and Arsenia Caguicla. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines (UP)[1] in 1939 and placed sixth in the 1939 bar exam, with a grade of 89.1%.
Aquino married Carolina Griño, the 1950 Bar topnotcher who would be the fourth appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court (1988–1993), serving until her retirement.[2][3] They had four children.[3]
He was a law professor and author of several books in civil, criminal and commercial laws. He held several government positions before becoming part of the Supreme Court.[citation needed]
Aquino, prior to his installation at the judiciary, worked as a professor at the UP.[4]
Legal career
editAs an Associate Justice (1973–1985)
editOn October 29, 1973, Aquino was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos, his former law school classmate,[5] as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, along with Estanislao Fernandez and Cecilia Muñoz-Palma.[6]
As Chief Justice (1985–1986)
editOn November 19, 1985, Aquino was appointed by Marcos as Chief Justice, replacing Felix Makasiar—also his former law school classmate[7]—who was to retire the following day.[8][5][7] Both Makasiar (appointed in July) and Aquino were selected while bypassing the most senior justice and the president's critic, Associate Justice Claudio Teehankee.[5][9] His appointment was criticized by human rights lawyers which alleged that the president was "institutionalizing judicial cronyism."[5]
Notable SC rulings under his leadership
editHours prior to his appointment as Chief Justice,[7] Aquino, along with Makasiar, were the only justices who favored the dismissal of the petition for mistrial in connection with the 1983 assassination of Ninoy Aquino,[A] against nine others who moved to order a lower court to withhold the scheduled verdict for the former to further study the petition.[12][7] The petition, which claimed Marcos interfered in the trial, was dismissed on November 28 with a 9–2 vote;[10][13] with Aquino saying it lacked legal basis.[10]
On January 7, 1986, the court voted, 7–5 (with Aquino affirming), to dismiss all eleven petitions which sought to nullify Batas Pambansa 883 that set the February 7 special national elections for president and vice president.[14] The election later became controversial as Marcos was proclaimed winner, defeating Corazon Aquino.[A][11]
People Power Revolution; CJ Aquino's resignation
editDuring the February 1986 revolution, Aquino administered Marcos' oath of office for his fourth term,[15] in a ceremony held in the Malacañang Palace, which was proceeded as the live television broadcast had been interrupted a few moments prior.[16][17] Marcos was eventually ousted hours after the inauguration.[11]
At the beginning of the Aquino presidency, Justice Aquino responded[18] to the president's call less than a week earlier for the resignation of the entire Supreme Court.[11] He was replaced by Teehankee on March 6.[8][19]
Controversies
editWhile being an Associate Justice, Aquino and his four fellow justices, including Vicente Ericta, Ramon Fernandez, and then Chief Justice Enrique Fernando, were directly implicated in a scandal where the grade of Ericta's son, earned in the 1981 bar examination, was allegedly revised for him to pass.[20][21] All justices either denied involvement or said that there was nothing wrong in such action.[21] President Marcos accepted the resignations of all 14 justices in May 1982;[21] but swore in a new court days later, with all justices reinstated to their respective positions except for Ericta and Fernandez which were "found responsible" for the changing of grade.[20]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Salas gets posthumous award". Manila Standard. November 5, 1988. p. 7. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ Punay, Edu (December 25, 2012). "Former SC justice Griño-Aquino, 89". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "SC Justice Carolina Griño-Aquino passes away". Sun.Star. 2012-12-24. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
- ^ Jurado, Emil (October 17, 1991). "Cory and the judiciary's career system". Manila Standard. p. 10. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d "President Ferdinand Marcos swore in a former law school [...]". United Press International. November 20, 1985. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ G.R. No. L-35546, L-35538 to L-35540, L-35547, L-35556, L-35567, L-35571, L-35573 (September 17, 1974), (Petitions for habeas corpus), retrieved November 2, 2024
- ^ a b c d "Delay of verdict ordered in Aquino murder trial". Lodi News-Sentinel. Lodi, California. United Press International. November 20, 1985. p. 14. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Chief Justice Ramon C. Aquino". Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ Doronila, Amando (December 5, 2005). "Analysis — Davide's legacy of activism: Break or continuity". Philippine Daily Inquirer. pp. A1, A21. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c "Trial court to issue verdict soon". The Madison Courier. Madison, Indiana. Associated Press. November 30, 1985. p. B4. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d Branigin, William (March 4, 1986). "Five of 12 Justices Quit Philippines Supreme Court". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Supreme court stops verdict on Aquino". The Madison Courier. Madison, Indiana. Associated Press. November 19, 1985. p. 2. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Around the world — verdict may be given". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, Florida. November 28, 1985. p. 3A. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ Bernas, Joaquin (October 31, 2005). "Sounding Board — Snap Election?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A15. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ Branigin, William (February 25, 1986). "Aquino and Marcos Hold Rival Inaugurations". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Fineman, Mark; Williams, Nick Jr. (February 25, 1986). "Rivals Sworn In; U.S. Urges Marcos to Quit: Presidential Contenders Inaugurated". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "February 25, 1986 — Extra: Marcos takes oath too, at Malacanang; Tolentino missing". Philippine Daily Inquirer. February 24, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ Reed, Jack (March 6, 1986). "Aquino Releases 4 Reds, Alarming U.S., Military". Schenectady Gazette. Schenectady, New York. United Press International. p. 1. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Aquino gets hand with housecleaning". Chicago Tribune. March 7, 1986. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "What Went Before: 1982 Ericta case". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 23, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Marcos Accepts Resignations Of All 14 On Supreme Court". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press. May 10, 1982. p. 2. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Google Books.
- Cruz, Isagani A. (2000). "Res Gestae: A Brief History of the Supreme Court". Rex Book Store, Manila