JUSTICE MAGDANGAL M. DE LEON
Magdangal de Leon (“Dangal”) is a product of the Philippine public school system and was recognized for leadership and academic excellence throughout his student years.He obtained his Foreign Service degree in the University of the Philippines where he became Secretary General of the U.P. Foreign Service Corps and was selected as member of the Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society and Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science Honor Society. He graduated from the U.P. College of Law, where he was among the top ten in his batch, aside from being chosen as most talented student. After a few years in private practice, starting with the law office of the prominent trial lawyer, Crispin Baizas, and later with Blanco Law Firm and Francisco Law Office, Dangal entered government service as a Trial Attorney in the office of the Solicitor General, the law firm of the Republic and its officials. Rising from the ranks, he was appointed Assistant Solicitor General (ASG) by President Aquino in 1991. Recently, he was appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals by President Arroyo.
As ASG, he had handled several significant cases, among which are the Bataan Petrochem, Manila Hotel, Petron privatization, Eastern Telecoms, Rolito Go and party List cases, and more recently, the PIATCO, Kuratong Baleleng, Photokina, LDP, Misuari, Agus Dwikarna, Dacer-Corbito and Rod Strunk cases. He was also the head of many task forces in the OSG, including those for the DepEd, CHED, BI, BOC, SEC, BOC, PNOC and PEA. Likewise, he was a member of the Inter-Agency Task Forces on Illegal Logging and Illegal Fishing. Presently, he is a faculty member and bar reviewer at the Ateneo Law School and Chairman of the Las Piñas City Bar Association. In the international scene, he is a member of the International Consultants Group, Rules and Principles of Transnational Civil Procedure, sponsored by the American Law Institute. He has appeared and argued before the trial courts, including the Sandiganbayan, and also before the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, both division and en banc.
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Educational Background:
Elementary: Moises Salvador Elementary School, Manila, 1960
Secondary: Ramon Avanceña High School, Manila, 1964
Bachelor of Science In Foreign Service: University of the Philippines, 1968
Bachelor of Laws: University of the Philippines, 1972
Honors and Distinction:
Valedictorian, Elementary
First Honors, High School
Entrance Scholar, U.P., 1964
College Scholar, U.P., 1965 – 1967
Best Orator, U.P. College of Law, 1970
Most Talented Student, U.P. College of Law, 1971
Among the Top Ten, U.P. Law Class ‘72
Member, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society
Member, Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science Honor Society
Commissioner’s Citation from the Bureau of Immigration for “his distinguished service to the cause of Philippine Immigration”
Special recognition and commendation from the Commission on Audit for “exceptional devotion to duty, legal expertise and masterful handling of court cases where COA is a party, thus aiding COA in fulfilling its constitutionally mandated functions”
Special commendation from the Dangerous Drugs Board for his "dedication to duty and relentless efforts in the drive against drug abuse and illicit trafficking”
Outstanding Rotarian in Public Service, Rotary Makati-Paseo de Roxas
Outstanding Alumnus Award, DECS-Manila
Outstanding Graduate in the field of law, Ramon Avanceña High School
Battig Music Award from St. Scholastica’s College
Plaques of appreciation for being an MCLE Lecturer on “Oral Advocacy”
Plaques of appreciation from various groups for being a guest speaker on Filipino cultural values
Former Positions and Affiliations:
President, RAHS Supreme Student Government
Managing Editor, “The Avanceñan”
Secretary-General, U.P. Foreign Service Corps
President, U.P. ROTC Band
Vice-President, U.P. French Club
Chairman, UPSCA Electoral College
Member, U.P. Debate Workshop
Member, U.P. International Club
Member, Samahan ng mga Makabayang Mag-aaral ng Batas
Member, Sanduguang Kayumanggi
Member, U.P. Concert Chorus
Member, Philippine Madrigal Singers
Faculty Member, La Consolacion College
Laperal Music School
Associate, Baizas Alberto & Associates: 1973 – 74
Associate, Blanco Law Firm: 1974 – 75
Associate, Francisco De Castro & Zulueta: 1975 – 76
Trial Attorney, Office of the Solicitor General: 1976 – 78
Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor General: 1978 – 91
Assistant Solicitor General: 1991 – 2004
Worshipful Master, Araw Lodge No. 18, F. & A.M.
Present Positions and Affiliations:
Associate Justice, Court of Appeals
Faculty Member, Ateneo Law School and Bar Reviewer,
Ateneo Law School and other law schools
Chairman, Las Piñas City Bar Association
Trustee, Center for Restorative Justice in Asia
Member, International Consultants Group,
Rules and Principles of Transnational Civil Procedure
Member, Philippine Bar Association
Member, Philippine Society of International Law
Member, International Law Association
Work Experience:
Though several years in private practice, immediately after passing the bar in 1973, with the law office of the prominent trial lawyer, Crispin Baizas, and, successively, with the Blanco and Francisco Law offices, and more than twenty seven (27) years in the Office of the Solicitor General, the law firm of the Republic, as Trial Attorney, Solicitor and Assistant Solicitor General, he had handled many significant cases, including the Bataan Petrochem, Manila Hotel, Petron privatization, Eastern Telecoms, Rolito Go and Party List cases, and more recently, the PIATCO, Kuratong Baleleng, Photokina, Misuari, Agus Dwikarna, Dacer-Corbito and Rod Strunk cases, and had appeared and argued before the trial courts, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
He also headed the following:
OSG-DepEd Task Force
OSG-CHED Task Force
OSG-BOC Task Force
OSG-BI Task Force
OSG-SEC Task Force
OSG-PNOC Task Force
OSG-PEA Task Force
OSG-FPA Task Force
and was a member of the following:
Inter-Agency Task Force on Cancellation of Fake Titles Involving MIAA Properties
Inter-Agency Task Force on Illegal Logging Inter-Agency Task Force on Illegal Fishing
He is also an MCLE lecturer on “Oral Advocacy.”
Conferences Attended:
16th World Law Conference, Manila, October 1993
National Security Council Conference Workshop on Information Management and Global Competitiveness, Manila, October 1993
First ASEAN Attorneys General Conference, Jakarta, Indonesia, July 1995
17th World Law Conference, Montreal, Canada, August 1995
National Conference on the Rule of Law and Democracy in the Philippines, Makati, June 1997
Southeast Asian Justices’ Symposium:The Law on Sustainable Development, Manila, March 1999
Conference on Transnational Civil Procedure, sponsored by the American Law Institute, Singapore, June 1999
19th World Law Conference, Budapest, Hungary and Vienna, Austria, October 1999
First Follow-up Experts’ Conference on the International Criminal Court, Manila, October 2001
Second Follow-up Experts’ Conference on the International Criminal Court, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, October 2002
21st World Law Conference, Sydney and Adelaide, Australia, August 2003
Special Achievements/Talents:
Composer, Philippine Army March, Philippine Coast Guard Hymn, IBP March, PLEB March, Rotary Hymn, Davao Millennium March, OSG March, U.P. Law Graduation Hymn, Grand Lodge of the Philippines March, Demolay March, Demolay Prayer Hymn, Lingkod Bayan March, Golden Values School Song, among others
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Choral arranger, Philippine Madrigal Singers, Metropolitan Theater Choir, etc.
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Conductor, Malacañang, DOH NIA and other choral groups
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Soloist, Inaugural Concert, National Arts Center, Los Baños, Laguna
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Has been featured on stage, television and radio as a baritone
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Has conducted both the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Manila Symphony Orchestra
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Has served as judge at the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and Yamaha Guitar Competition
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Plays the flute, guitar, piano and rondalla instruments
Personal Data:
Birthdate: August 19, 1948
Birthplace: Manila
Parents: Felipe Padilla de Leon, (nationalist composer, conductor, writer, National Artist for Music, composed first full-length Filipino opera, Noli Me Tangere)
Iluminada Bonus Mendoza, (concert pianist, piano teacher, granddaughter of Ladislao Bonus, the first Filipino opera composer)
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Fifth of six children: three brothers – Felipe Jr., Bayani and Tagumpay; two sisters – Luningning and Marilag
Spouse: Patria A. Manalastas-de Leon, RTC Judge, Muntinlupa City, Br. 206 (now Executive Judge)
Children: Pantas – 1st year, UST College of Law; Alaya – 1st year, UP College of Law; Aldo – 1st year High School, St. Benedict College.
Note: PANTAS and ALAYA recently took the 2007 Bar Examinations last September 2007. I wish them success. The results will be released in March-April 2008.
Languages: Filipino, English, French
Source:
http://www.chanrobleslawnet.com/justicemagdangaldeleon.htm