Hilario Gelbolingo Davide Jr. (born December 20, 1935) is a Filipino lawyer, professor, diplomat, constitutionalist and former politician, who served as the 20th

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines The chief justice of the Philippines ( fil, Punong Mahistrado ng Pilipinas) presides over the Supreme Court of the Philippines and is the highest judicial officer of the government of the Philippines. As of April 5, 2021, the position is cur ...

and

Permanent Representative A permanent representative is a diplomat who is the head of a country’s diplomatic mission to an international organisation. Organizations that receive permanent representatives from their member states include the United Nations, the World Tr ...

of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

to the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

. As constitutionalist, Davide led the creation of the Legislative branch, and also wrote the most resolutions and the bulk of the

1987 Constitution of the Philippines The Constitution of the Philippines ( Filipino: ''Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas'' or ''Konstitusyon ng Pilipinas'', Spanish: ''Constitución de la República de Filipinas'') is the constitution or the supreme law of the Republic of the Philippin ...

, becoming its father and primary author. On June 30, 2010,

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Noynoy Aquino Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III (; February 8, 1960 – June 24, 2021), also known as Noynoy Aquino and colloquially as PNoy, was a Filipino politician who served as the 15th president of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016. The son of ...

announced that Davide will head a

truth commission A truth commission, also known as a truth and reconciliation commission or truth and justice commission, is an official body tasked with discovering and revealing past wrongdoing by a government (or, depending on the circumstances, non-state act ...

that will investigate important issues in the country.

Early life and career

The sixth of seven siblings, Davide was born in

Barangay A barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as barrio (abbreviated as Bo.), is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district, or ward. In metropolita ...

Colawin, in Argao, Cebu to Hilario P. Davide Sr. (1904–2006), a retired Schools Division Superintendent, and Josefa L. Gelbolingo, a former public school teacher. He completed his primary education at Argao Central Elementary School and secondary education at Abellana Vocational High School. In college, he went to the country's premier state university, the

University of the Philippines Diliman , image = University of The Philippines seal.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = Official Logo of UP Diliman , motto = Honor and Excellence , established = February 12, 194 ...

, Quezon City where he earned his

Associate in Arts An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree. The f ...

in 1955, his Bachelor of Science in Jurisprudence in 1958, and his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1959. He took and passed the bar examinations given that same year. From 1959 to 1963, Davide worked as private secretary to the vice-governor and later governor of the province of

Cebu Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 16 ...

. From 1962 to 1968, he was a faculty member of the

College of Law A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction. Law degrees Argentina In Argentina, ...

Southwestern University Southwestern University (Southwestern or SU) is a private liberal arts college in Georgetown, Texas. Formed in 1873 from a revival of collegiate charters granted in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest college or university in Texas. Southwestern o ...

Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines and capital of the Cebu Province. Acc ...

. This university, three decades later, would confer on him a degree of

Doctor of Laws A Doctor of Law is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Legum Doctor ...

( Honoris Causa) in 1999.

Legislator and constitutionalist

Davide's first opportunity to get into the national scene was when he was elected as Delegate of the 4th District of

to the 1971 Constitutional Convention (CONCON). He became Chairman of the Committee on Duties and Obligations of Citizens and Ethics of Public Officials. He was among three delegates who introduced the most number of reform proposals. The reforms adopted under the Constitutional Convention were, however, short-lived. Public unrest over deteriorating economic conditions and the suppression of political rights, as well as the desire of then-President Ferdinand Marcos to perpetuate himself in power, heralded the

declaration Declaration may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''Declaration'' (book), a self-published electronic pamphlet by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri * ''The Declaration'' (novel), a 2008 children's novel by Gemma Malley Music ...

martial law Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Use Marti ...

in 1972. In 1978, he was elected assemblyman for Cebu in the

Interim Batasang Pambansa The Interim Batasang Pambansa (English: Interim National Assembly) was the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines from its inauguration on June 12, 1978 to June 5, 1984. It served as a transitional legislative body mandated by the 1973 ...

under the opposition party Pusyon Bisaya and became one of martial law's staunch critics. As an oppositionist in the ruling party-dominated legislative body, he was its first Minority Floor Leader. He filed the most number of bills of national significance, as well as resolutions to lift martial law. He also sought legislative investigations of graft and corruption in government and reported violations of human rights. After the overthrow of the Marcos regime through the People Power revolt in February 1986, then-President Corazon C. Aquino convened the

Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986 The Philippine Constitutional Commission of 1986 was the Constitutional convention (political meeting), constitutional convention tasked with drafting the 1987 Constitution, present iteration of the Constitution of the Philippines in 1986. Sessio ...

and appointed Davide as one of its 50 Commissioners. He led the legislative branch article as chairman and filed the most resolutions including Resolution No. 9 which added legislative approval on martial law and a limited period on its validity, an impact which is still felt today.

COMELEC and the 1989 coup

In February 1988, President Aquino appointed Davide as Chairman of the

Commission on Elections An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...

(COMELEC). He was the principal sponsor of the COMELEC's Rules of Procedure. However, his stint in the COMELEC was cut short when President Aquino appointed him as Chairman of the Presidential Fact-Finding Commission to investigate the December 1, 1989 coup attempt in which military rebels meant to oust President Aquino. This presidential commission was tasked to conduct an investigation on the rebellion and the possible involvement of military and civilian officials and private persons. Furthermore, Congress passed Republic Act No. 6832 that enhanced the presidential commission's power through a broader Fact-Finding Commission to conduct a thorough investigation of the failed coup d'état and recommend measures to prevent the occurrence of similar attempts at a violent seizure of power.

Supreme Court

Associate Justice

On January 24, 1991, Davide was appointed by then-President Aquino as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. From January 2, 1996, to August 30, 1997, he sat as a member of the

Senate Electoral Tribunal The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) is an electoral tribunal that decides election protests in the Senate of the Philippines. It consists of 6 senators nominated by the Senate, and 3 justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, who are desig ...

. He was also the Working Chairman of the Court's Third Division from January 2, 1996, to September 7, 1997, and Chairman of the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal from September 1, 1997, to November 30, 1998.

Chief Justice

On November 30, 1998, he was appointed by President

Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada, (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor. He served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, the 9th vice presi ...

as the 20th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He took his oath of office at the new Bonifacio Shrine in the City of Manila. He became known as the Centennial and Millennial Chief Justice. He was the presiding judge in the impeachment trial against then-President Estrada in December 2000. When the popular protests spilled into the streets, his timely intervention on behalf of "the welfare and will of the people" by administering the oath of office as president to then-Vice-President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the House Deputy Speakers since 2022, and previously from 2016 to 2017. She previously ...

. By declaring her the constitutional successor it averted potential violence and military takeover of power, and brought the crisis to an end. Although the

moral authority Moral authority is authority premised on principles, or fundamental truths, which are independent of written, or positive, laws. As such, moral authority necessitates the existence of and adherence to truth. Because truth does not change, the princi ...

of the Supreme Court carried the day, Davide's action was further bolstered by a precedent setting Supreme Court decision, effectively putting an end to the question of the legitimacy of Vice-President Arroyo's succession to power.

Retirement

Davide retired as chief magistrate on December 20, 2005, after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. However, on January 24, 2006, President Arroyo appointed him as Senior Presidential Adviser on Electoral Reforms during a Council of State meeting convened by the President. He recommended measures and policies to the President that would help reform the country's electoral system.

United Nations

Davide served as Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the

in New York City. He assumed this post in February 2007. Shortly after his assumption, he was elected vice chairman of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the main organs of the United Nations. He resigned his post on April 1, 2010.

Awards

In 2011 Davide was awarded one of the highest honours of the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of R ...

- the Knight Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of St. Sylvester by decree of Pope

Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the soverei ...

. Hilario Davide is the recipient of many awards. In 2002, he was conferred the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service—a singular honor that is the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. He was recognized for his life of principled citizenship and his profound service to democracy and the rule of law in the Philippines. Apart from the Magsaysay Award, he is also the recipient of the 2005 Most Distinguished Alumnus Award given by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association; the 2003 Man of the Year Award by the Philippine Free Press; the 2000 Filipino of the Year Award by the Philippine Daily Inquirer; the 2001 Rule of Law Award; the 1999 The Outstanding Filipino Award in Environmental Law; the 2003 Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion Award for Legal Aid by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and 13 honorary degrees in doctoral in law and humanities. In August 2006, he was conferred the ABA International Rule of Law Award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership in advancing the Rule of Law by the American Bar Association (ABA) Rule of Law Initiative on the occasion of the ABA's 2006 Annual Convention. Hilario G. Davide Jr. was also the Supreme Commander of the

Order of the Knights of Rizal The Knights of Rizal is an Order of Chivalry from the Philippines, created to honor and uphold the ideals of Philippine national hero José Rizal. The civic organisation of the "Order of the Knights of Rizal" was established in 1911 by Colonel A ...

and was conferred the highest rank, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal.

World Justice Project

Hilario G. Davide Jr. serves as an Honorary Co-Chair for the

World Justice Project The World Justice Project (WJP) is an international civil society organization with the stated mission of "working to advance the rule of law around the world". It produces the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, a quantitative assessment ...

. The

works to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen the Rule of Law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity.

Personal life

Jun, as many call him, is married to Virginia (Gigi) Jimenea Perez. They have five children, namely:

Hilario Davide III Hilario "Junjun" Perez Davide III (born August 25, 1964) is a Filipino politician and lawyer who is the incumbent vice governor of Cebu. He served as a governor of Cebu Province from 2013 to 2019. He is the son of former Chief Justice Hilario D ...

(a lawyer, former city councilor of

and Governor of

); Joseph Bryan Hilary (a law graduate), Sheryl Ann (a doctor), Noreen (a Master in SPED graduate), and Delster Emmanuel (an architect) and thirteen grandchildren.

References

External links