SC Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing (Photo from SC PIO)
MANILA, Philippines – Former Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing has died. He was 79.
The SC on Monday expressed sadness over the passing of Quisumbing, who served the high court for 11 years.
“Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin and the Associate Justice of the high court deeply mourn the passing of retired Justice Quisumbing,” the SC said in a statement.
Quisumbing was appointed Supreme Court Associate Justice on January 20, 1998. He retired November 6, 2009 upon reaching 70 years old.
Among his notable decisions was the 1998 case of Cojuangco vs. Sandiganbayan (G.R. No. 134307, December 21, 1998) on the right to speedy trial. In that ruling, the SC noted the following factors must be taken into consideration to determine if one’s constitutional right has been violated: (1) the length of delay; (2) the reason for such delay; and (3) the assertion or failure to assert such right by the accused and the prejudice caused by the delay.
He also penned the high court’s ruling on the case of Tijing vs. CA (GR No. 125901, March 8, 2001) regarding the admissibility of DNA test in habeas corpus involving a parents’ fight to acquire custody of a minor child.
Quisumbing also wrote the resolution dismissing the electoral protest against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (P.E.T. CASE No. 002, March 29, 2005) by disallowing actress Susan Roces to substitute for action king Fernando Poe Jr.
Prior to his appointment at SC, Quisumbing served as Secretary of Labor and Employment and Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense during President Corazon C. Aquino’s administration. He also became Senior Deputy Executive Secretary to then President Fidel V. Ramos. Quisumbing was likewise Commodore of the Philippine Coast Guard, 106th Auxiliary Squadron.
Quisumbing’s remains lie in state at the San Quentin Chapel, Ground Floor, Loyola Memorial Chapel in Guadalupe, Makati and may be viewed starting this evening. The schedule of interment will be announced later.
Quisumbing was survived by his two children, Josefa Lourdes and Cecilia Rachel. /kga