Jose Melo
Encyclopedia
Jose Armando R. Melo is a Filipino
lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
from 1992 to 2002. He is a former Chairman of the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC), and was succeeded by election lawyer Sixto Brillantes
.
. He is married to Norma Cruz with whom he has 3 children: Olivia Ann, Jaime Alberto and Jorge Alfonso.
He graduated at Sta. Ana Elementary School, 1946 and at Victorino Mapa High School
, 1950. He graduated Master of Laws
, "Meritissimus", at UST
, 1960. He passed the bar exams, in 1956, with rating of 85.5%.
He began his law practice as staff member, Diokno Law Office, 1957-1962. He was legal adviser, Board of Censors for Motion Picture, 1969-1975.
in 1956. During the 1970s, he worked for the Office of the Solicitor General. In 1986, he was appointed to the Philippine Court of Appeals
by President
Corazon Aquino
.
Melo was appointed by President Fidel Ramos to the Supreme Court on August 10, 1992. Melo served for ten years on the High Court, retiring after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on May 30, 2002.
On August 21, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
created an investigating body headed by Melo to probe the extrajudicial and political killings
which had targeted militant activists and members of the press. The body, popularly known as the Melo Commission, rendered a report which concluded that most of the killings were instigated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
, but found no proof linking the murder of activists to a "national policy" as claimed by the left-wing groups. On the other hand the report "linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended that military officials, notably retired major general Jovito Palparan
, be held liable under the principle of command responsibility for killings in their areas of assignment."
in that office.
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...
lawyer and jurist who served 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...
from 1992 to 2002. He is a former Chairman of the Commission on Elections
Commission on Elections (Philippines)
The Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, is one of the three constitutional commissions of the Philippines. Its principal role is to enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls....
(COMELEC), and was succeeded by election lawyer Sixto Brillantes
Sixto Brillantes
Sixto S. Brillantes, Jr is the current chairman of the Philippine Commission on Elections . He was appointed by Philippine president Benigno Aquino III on January 16, 2011 to serve the unexpired term of Chairman Jose Melo.-Election Lawyer:...
.
Early life and education
Melo was born in the Philippine General Hospital in ManilaManila
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,...
. He is married to Norma Cruz with whom he has 3 children: Olivia Ann, Jaime Alberto and Jorge Alfonso.
He graduated at Sta. Ana Elementary School, 1946 and at Victorino Mapa High School
Victorino Mapa High School
Victorino Mapa High School , situated in San Miguel, Manila, is one of the oldest public high schools in the city...
, 1950. He graduated Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
, "Meritissimus", at UST
UST
UST is a three letter acronym that may refer to:* Equatorial Guinea Workers' Union* Hong Kong University of Science and Technology * Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St...
, 1960. He passed the bar exams, in 1956, with rating of 85.5%.
He began his law practice as staff member, Diokno Law Office, 1957-1962. He was legal adviser, Board of Censors for Motion Picture, 1969-1975.
Judicial career
Melo obtained his law degree from the Manuel L. Quezon UniversityManuel L. Quezon University
The Manuel L. Quezon University is a private university in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines. It is a member of the Colleges and Universities Sports Association . It offers academic programs at the pre-school, elementary, high school, tertiary, and graduate levels. It is named for Philippine president...
in 1956. During the 1970s, he worked for the Office of the Solicitor General. In 1986, he was appointed to the Philippine 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...
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...
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...
.
Melo was appointed by President Fidel Ramos to the Supreme Court on August 10, 1992. Melo served for ten years on the High Court, retiring after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 on May 30, 2002.
Melo Commission
- See also: Political killings in the Philippines (2001-2010)Political killings in the Philippines (2001-2010)The political killings in the Philippines are a series of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of Left-wing politicians and activists, journalists, human rights advocates, the political opposition, and outspoken clergy that have increased dramatically since 2001.Numerous actors are...
(section Melo Commission).
On August 21, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
created an investigating body headed by Melo to probe the extrajudicial and political killings
Political killings in the Philippines (2001-2010)
The political killings in the Philippines are a series of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of Left-wing politicians and activists, journalists, human rights advocates, the political opposition, and outspoken clergy that have increased dramatically since 2001.Numerous actors are...
which had targeted militant activists and members of the press. The body, popularly known as the Melo Commission, rendered a report which concluded that most of the killings were instigated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
, but found no proof linking the murder of activists to a "national policy" as claimed by the left-wing groups. On the other hand the report "linked state security forces to the murder of militants and recommended that military officials, notably retired major general Jovito Palparan
Jovito Palparan
Jovito Salvaña Palparan, Jr. is a Filipino Congressman representing the Bantay party-list group in the 14th Congress of the Philippines. He is also a retired army general, who was a prominent figure in the campaign against communist insurgents in the Philippines...
, be held liable under the principle of command responsibility for killings in their areas of assignment."
Comelec appointment
In January 2008, President Macapagal-Arroyo announced the appointment of Melo as Chairman of the Commission on Elections. He succeeded Benjamin AbalosBenjamin Abalos
Benjamin S. Abalos, Sr. is a politician and is a former chairman of the Philippine Commission on Election. He was also a MMDA Chairman and Mandaluyong City Mayor. He is the father of current Mandaluyong City mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos, Jr..-Early life:Benjamin Abalos was born into a poor...
in that office.