Regalado Maambong
Encyclopedia
Regalado E. "Dodong" Maambong (died May 27, 2011) was a Filipino
jurist
, politician
and member of the 1987 Constitutional Commission, which drafted the Constitution of the Philippines
.
Regalado Maambong was born in Santa Fe, Cebu
. His father, Joaquin Tagalog Maambong, was a judge. He studied pre-law at the University of San Carlos
in Cebu
, before completing his law degree
at Ateneo de Manila University
, a Jesuit university in Manila
. He passed the Philippines bar exam within the top 20 for the country. A criminologist, Maambong later served as the dean of the College of Criminology of the University of the Visayas
.
Maambong served in both the Filipino legislative and executive branches of government. He was elected to the Batasang Pambansa
in 1984 as a member of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
(KBL).
After the fall of Ferdinand Marcos
, President Corazon Aquino
appointed Maambong as a trial judge in Cebu and then as a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission. As a member of the Commission, Maambong helped to write and draft the Constitution of the Philippines drafted in 1987. Aquino then appointed Maambong as a Commissioner of the Commission on Elections
, or Comelec
.
Maambong retired from Comelec and ran as a candidate for Governor of Cebu in 2001. However, he was defeated Pablo Garcia (Filipino politician)
. In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal as an associate justice
of the Court of Appeals of the Philippines. He served as the chairman of the 15th Division of the Court of Appeals until 2009. Maambong made an unsuccessful bid for the Philippines Senate in 2010.
He was considered an expert in election law
. Maambong spearheaded and advocated the automation of the Philippines election system, which was fully implemented for the May 2010 Philippine general election
.
Regalado Maambong died from multiple organ failure at his condominium
in Quezon City
on May 27, 2011, aged 72. He was survived by his wife, Cristina, two sons Victor and Renren, and five grandchildren. Maambong was laid in state at St. Peter's Memorial Chapel, cremated at Quezon City Columbarium, and his remains returned to Cebu
, his home province. His ashes were spread at a cemetery in Asturias, Cebu
.
Philippines Chief Justice Renato Corona
called Maambong "a great man. A constitutionalist, an election expert and a great jurist. [The death of] Justice Maambong was a big loss to the legal circle and to the academe. His contributions in the field of law will never be forgotten."
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...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of the 1987 Constitutional Commission, which drafted the Constitution of the Philippines
Constitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
.
Regalado Maambong was born in Santa Fe, Cebu
Santa Fe, Cebu
Santa Fe is a 5th class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 26,826 people. The municipality's territory includes the eastern portion of Bantayan Island , as well as Guintacan and Hilantagaan Islands.Bantayan Airport, serving...
. His father, Joaquin Tagalog Maambong, was a judge. He studied pre-law at the University of San Carlos
University of San Carlos
The University of San Carlos is a Roman Catholic university governed by the Society of the Divine Word since 1935 in Cebu City. It offers pre-elementary and basic education as well as undergraduate and graduate courses, and a broad spectrum of academic programs through its eight colleges.It...
in Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
, before completing his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
at 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...
, a Jesuit university in Manila
Manila
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 passed the Philippines bar exam within the top 20 for the country. A criminologist, Maambong later served as the dean of the College of Criminology of the University of the Visayas
University of the Visayas
The ' is an educational institution located at Cebu City, Philippines. It is billed as the first university in Cebu City .- Campuses and location :...
.
Maambong served in both the Filipino legislative and executive branches of government. He was elected to the Batasang Pambansa
Batasang Pambansa
The Batasang Pambansa , also known by its nickname, the Batasan, was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and finally as an official body in 1984. Under the 1973 constitution, it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth...
in 1984 as a member of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan , formerly the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan ng Nagkakaisang Nacionalista, Liberal, at iba pa, , is a political party in the Philippines...
(KBL).
After the fall of 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...
, President 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...
appointed Maambong as a trial judge in Cebu and then as a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission. As a member of the Commission, Maambong helped to write and draft the Constitution of the Philippines drafted in 1987. Aquino then appointed Maambong as a Commissioner 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....
, or Comelec
COMELEC
COMELEC may refer to:* Commission on Elections * Comité Maghrébin de l’Electricité...
.
Maambong retired from Comelec and ran as a candidate for Governor of Cebu in 2001. However, he was defeated Pablo Garcia (Filipino politician)
Pablo Garcia
Pablo García may refer to:* Pablo Gabriel García , Uruguayan footballer* Pablo García , Spanish guitarist and member of the band WarCry* Pablo P...
. In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal as an associate justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the Court of Appeals of the Philippines. He served as the chairman of the 15th Division of the Court of Appeals until 2009. Maambong made an unsuccessful bid for the Philippines Senate in 2010.
He was considered an expert in election law
Election law
Election law is a discipline falling at the juncture of constitutional law and political science. It researches "the politics of law and the law of politics"...
. Maambong spearheaded and advocated the automation of the Philippines election system, which was fully implemented for the May 2010 Philippine general election
Philippine general election, 2010
Elections for all positions in the Philippines above the barangay were held on Monday, May 10, 2010. The elected president will become the 15th President of the Philippines, succeeding President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is barred from seeking re-election due to term restrictions...
.
Regalado Maambong died from multiple organ failure at his condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
on May 27, 2011, aged 72. He was survived by his wife, Cristina, two sons Victor and Renren, and five grandchildren. Maambong was laid in state at St. Peter's Memorial Chapel, cremated at Quezon City Columbarium, and his remains returned to Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
, his home province. His ashes were spread at a cemetery in Asturias, Cebu
Asturias, Cebu
Asturias is a 1st class municipality in the northwestern coast of Cebu Province, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 40,939 people.It is geographically located at 10°34'N 123°43'E...
.
Philippines Chief Justice Renato Corona
Renato Corona
Renato C. Corona is the incumbent Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was appointed to the Court on April 9, 2002 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo...
called Maambong "a great man. A constitutionalist, an election expert and a great jurist. [The death of] Justice Maambong was a big loss to the legal circle and to the academe. His contributions in the field of law will never be forgotten."