Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas
MANILA, Philippines – Messages of mourning filled social media after news broke out that former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, 85, passed away Sunday night.
Many heralded the famous lawyer as a luminary and his death a great loss to the legal community.
Former Commission on Elections Commissioner and lawyer Gregorio Larrazabal took to Twitter, saying, “Former Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas passed away last night… His death will be a great loss to the legal community.”
Another called him the “rockstar” of the Corona impeachment trial.
In addition to his work in the high court, Cuevas became more popular, especially among the younger generation of Filipinos, as lead counsel of former Chief Justice Renato Corona during his impeachment trial in 2012.
His exchanges with Senator Juan Ponce Enrile were among the highlights of the trial, broadcasted live over television.
It was no surprise that a handful, in their online tributes, called him a “legend” and a “brilliant” lawyer.
“The real star of the Corona impeachment trial passes on. RIP Serafin Cuevas. What a brilliant mind,” said Marga (@margadeona).
Twitter user Raul de Vera Jr. (@Bacci3) said Cuevas made a fan out of him even if he was not a lawyer.
“Thank you for your wisdom Justice Serafin Cuevas…Gonna miss your antics,” said Jomari Joseph (@iamjoms474).
Many posted quotable quotes from the lawyer.
“Impertinent, immaterial, irrelevant!” Professional Heckler (@HecklerForever) recalled Cuevas saying during the impeachment trial.
Cuevas was appointed to the Supreme Court during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos. He was the court’s 106th associate justice, serving from June 1, 1984 to April 16, 1986.
A graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Law, he started his career in the judiciary as assistant fiscal of the city of Manila.
https://storify.com/inquirerdotnet/tributes-for-rockstar-lawyer-serafin-cuevas
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