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Friday, March 29, 2024

The people’s lawyer

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“One name keeps cropping up for the position of Solicitor General…that piece of rumor pique my interest as it pertains to a most revered colleague here in the Manila Standard. —Atty. Tranquil Salvador”

The past three weeks, the Marites from the four corners of the country have been very active, predicting who will make it to President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s Cabinet.

Not surprisingly, many were perfect hits, although some missed their marks.

While I am not one of those who joined the prediction-frenzy, I’m quite elated those in my wish list have made it, including Prof. Clarita Carlos whom I had the privilege of interviewing along with my Partner, Jenni Munar, in our radio program late last year, months before she gained a rock star status after serving as one of the panelists in the SMNI-sponsored presidential debate.

Although Partner Jenni and me are a bit disappointed as we were rooting for another post for her.

Also on our wish list is current OWWA Deputy Administrator Arnell Ignacio who we believe is doing a good job in the OFW front.

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Anyway, scanning through the different pages I have been following in the social media, especially those which have something to do in the legal community—I see those pages to be a more reliable source of news for would-be appointees, one name keeps cropping up for the position of Solicitor General—I won’t be surprised if the aspirants for the SolGen post won’t make it to the favored topic of the hardcore Marites as I don’t think that is a position most sought after.

Nonetheless, that piece of rumor pique my interest as it pertains to a most revered colleague here in the Manila Standard—Atty. Tranquil Salvador. And honestly, I believe he is fit for the job.

If one is to dig on his background, his resumé would be more than enough to impress everyone.

A partner in the Romulo, Mabanta, Buenaventura, Sayoc & de Los Angeles Law Office where he either co-heads or heads the Litigation and Arbitration Department, the Environmental Law and Mining Department, and the Legal Assistance Service to the Asian Development Bank.

He also is serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Manila Bankers Life Insurance, Inc. and the Philippine Columbian Association.

Having served as a  Bar Examiner in Remedial Law, in the 2018 Bar Examinations; a member, Bar Examination Answers-Remedial Law Deliberations Committee, 2007 to 2010, 2013, 2015, 2020-2021; an expert in Remedial Law for the Validation of Questions in the first Multiple Choice Bar Examinations;

Appointed by then Dean and now UP President Danilo Concepcion to be a member of the Three-Man Codification Review Committee on the amendment of the Rules of Civil Procedure in 2013 in the UP Law Center.

He also served in the Supreme Court as member of Committee on the New Guidelines of Litigation Practice in Quezon City, which took effect on April 16, 2012. The Guidelines was one of the bases for the issuance of the Judicial Affidavit Rule;

Core Committee of the National Conference for the Revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure, Filing of cases, Pre-trial, and Trial (2013); Committee on the Revision of the Rules of Court by the Supreme Court, Civil Procedure and Evidence (Memorandum Order No. 03-2019, January 14, 2019);

Sub-Committee for the Revision of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure (Memorandum Order 04-2019, January 14, 2019); Committee on the Revisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility (Memorandum Order No. 111-2021, October 2021) and Reorganized Sub-Committee for the Revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure(Memorandum Order No. 115-2021).

Presently the Dean of the Manila Adventist College School of Law and Jurisprudence  after having served as dean of the Law School of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay.

Author of the book, Criminal Procedure, First Edition, Rex Publication, Inc. published in 2019; hosted his own radio program, “Legally Yours” for eight years, one of my co-hosts in my radio program “Partners;” and also one of my colleagues here in Manila Standard where he has a weekly column “Footnotes” which promotes knowledge and understanding of Philippine Law to ordinary Filipinos.

And the list goes on that I don’t think my column space could accommodate.

Actually, I first met Atty. Tranquil in 2012 when he served as spokesperson and member of the Defense team of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

My apologies, but I have to admit I have my biases. That time, I believe, even if I am not a lawyer, that the charges of which CJ Corona was convicted – Failure to file a correct SALN – does not constitute an impeachable offense and was a correctible act.

Thus, instead of covering the impeachment trial at the Senate and interviewing the senators and prosecution panel, I would rather wait for the Defense Team, Attys. Tranquil, Rico Quicho, Dennis Manalo and Karen Jimeno to present their sides to the media.

I covered every press briefing they held, every media forum they attended that I have gotten so close to them we ended up as friends (Atty. Dennis even served as my counsel in one of my libel cases. We won of course.).

Anyway, that’s how I discovered the man behind the suit.

A truly righteous man having defended another righteous man. It’s rather unfortunate CJ Corona had to leave us early.

Otherwise, he surely would be euphoric hearing even the mere rumor Atty. Tranquil is being considered for the SolGen post.

Having said that, I am praying Atty. Tranquil earns the approval of the incoming president. I may only be one voice but I hope this tiny voice adds up to the growing clamor for his appointment.

I’m sure we’ll be in good hands when Atty. Tranquil takes to the court as counsel of the People of the Philippines.

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