Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa. PHOTO FROM CAGATLAW.COM
President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday appointed chief presidential legal counsel Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, his classmate at the Ateneo de Manila University, as ad interim secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Caguioa will replace resigned Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who will run for senator in the 2016 elections under the Liberal Party-led “Daang Matuwid” coalition.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section 16, Article VII of the Constitution and existing laws, you are hereby appointed ad interim SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,” the appointment letter dated Oct. 12 and signed by Aquino read.
“By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office, furnishing this Office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office,” it added.
Caguioa and Aquino were classmates at the Ateneo from grade school to college.
Caguioa, son of the late Court of Appeals Justice Eduardo Caguioa, was one of the founding partners of the Caguioa and Gatmaytan Law Office, which specializes in litigation and arbitration. He was appointed chief Palace lawyer in January 2013.
Caguioa was a bar topnotcher in 1986 and was an honor graduated of the Ateneo law school.
READ: Aquino appoints classmate chief Palace lawyer | Lawyer tells Aquino: Don’t name pal chief counsel
Aquino approved De Lima’s resignation on Monday.
De Lima bade goodbye to the DOJ during the agency’s 118th founding anniversary in September.
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