Retired Associate Justice Hugo Gutierrez Jr. passes away at 86

MANILA, Philippines – Civil liberties advocate retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Hugo Gutierrez Jr. passed away Wednesday afternoon.

High Court Information Chief Theodore Te said Justice Gutierrez passed away due to multiple organ failure resulting from diabetes. He was 86.

“Justice Gutierrez had been in and out of the hospital for the last two years, and for the last three weeks had been in the Critical Care Unit (CCU),” Te said in a text message.

Gutierrez was among the high court justices appointed by former President Ferdinand Marcos who resigned after the assumption in office of then President Corazon Aquino. But he was also among the three justices reappointed by then President Aquino after she reorganized the high court.

Before joining the high court, Justice Gutierrez was with the Office of the Solicitor General and while sitting on the high court, became well known for his adherence to civil liberties.

His remains will lie in state at Sanctuarium on Araneta Avenue from tomorrow, Thursday, until Friday. Then his body will be brought to Pampanga.