Joker Arroyo

Infobox Officeholder


imagesize = 150px
honorific-prefix =
name = Joker P. Arroyo
imagesize =
small| caption =

order =
office = Senator of the Philippines
term_start = June 30, 2001
term_end =

order2 =
office2 = Representative, 1st District of Makati City
term_start2 = June 30, 1992
term_end2 = June 30, 2001

order3 =
office3 = Executive Secretary
term_start3 = March 25, 1986
term_end3 = September 14, 1987

birth_date = birth date and age|1927|1|5
birth_place = Naga City
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = Filipino
party = KAMPI (2007 to date) Independent (1992–2001; 2002–2007) Aksyon Demokratiko (2001)
spouse = Felicitas Aquino
relations =
children =
residence = Makati City
alma_mater = University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University
occupation = Lawyer
profession = Law
religion = Roman Catholic


website = [http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/arroyo_bio.htm Senate Profile]
footnotes =

Joker Paz Arroyo is a Filipino lawyer, politician and Senator of the Republic of the Philippines. He has no direct relation with current Presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Early Life and Career

Joker was born on January 05, 1927 in Naga, Camarines Sur but Joker also lived with his brother, Nonito at Baao, Camarines Sur. His name "Joker" derives from his father's fondness for card playing. His brother is called Jack. [ Chua-Eoan, H. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965575-1,00.html "The Philippines The Joker Was Not Laughing"] , "Time" p. 1, September 21, 1987. Accessed last February 21, 2007.] [Toms, S. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4609892.stm "The Philippine name game"] , "BBC News", January 14, 2006. Accessed last February 21, 2007.]

He completed his elementary education at the Naga Elementary School in Naga, Camarines Sur and secondary education at the Camarines Sur High School also in Naga. He gained a scholarship at the University of the Philippines and obtained the title Bachelor of Arts, and in 1952, his Bachelor of Laws from the College of Law. He also obtained his AAPL at the Ateneo de Manila University. He started his professional career as lawyer in 1953. Most of his clients belong to the middle class and low income families.

Martial Law

On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared Proclamation 1081, placing the entire Philippines under Martial Law. Arroyo was the very first lawyer to challenge the act before the Supreme Court and questioned its legality under the 1935 Philippine Constitution.

He and other lawyers joined in questioning other Marcos' acts before the Supreme Court: 1) the ratification of the Marcos-dictated 1973 Constitution; 2) amendment Six that empowered President Marcos to exercise law making powers alongside the Batasang Pambansa; 3) the power of military tribunals to try civilians.

Arroyo participated in the trials of political detainees such as Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., ABS-CBN Executive Eugenio Lopez, Jr., Cebu politician Sergio Osmeña III, Communist Party of the Philippines founder and University of the Philippines Professor Jose Maria Sison, Senators Jovito Salonga and Eva Kalaw, lawyers Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Renato Tañada, Eduardo Olaguer and many others.

He actively participated in street demonstrations. He was gassed, injured and hospitalized during protest rallies and incarcerated in a military stockade. He was one of the founders of the civic group MABINI and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG).

When Corazon Aquino decided to challenge Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 Snap Presidential Election, Arroyo served as Counsel of Cory Aquino during the snap election. During the first EDSA Revolution, he served as one Aquino's key advisers.

Aquino Presidency

Arroyo was appointed as Executive Secretary and he was one of the first appointees of Corazon Aquino after she was inaugurated in Club Filipino in San Juan. Arroyo served as Aquino's alter ego in her issuance of Executive Orders (formerly Presidential Decrees). These include the creation of the Family Code, Presidential Commission on Good Government, creation of the 1986 "Freedom Constitution", and the removal of local government officials & appointment of Officers-In-Charge. One Aquino decision, the freedom of Communist leader Jose Maria Sison sparked the September 1987 coup attempt initated by rebel military leaders. Due to intense pressure from the Philippine Congress the following months, Aquino accepted Arroyo's resignation. [Mydans, S. [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40711F739580C7B8DDDA00894DF484D81 "Aquino, Under Pressure, Removes Her Closest Adviser"] , "The New York Times", September 18, 1987. Accessed last February 21, 2007.] [ Chua-Eoan, H. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965575-2,00.html "The Philippines The Joker Was Not Laughing"] , "Time" p. 2, September 21, 1987. Accessed last February 21, 2007.]

He held various post in the government service first as Executive Secretary in the Aquino cabinet from 1986 to 1987, then as Chairman of the Philippine National Bank and as Executive Director for the Philippines in the Asian Development Bank from 1986 to 1990.

Arroyo has received various awards and commendations for his significant contributions to the law profession and public service. Among these are the Philippine Bar Association’s Most Distinguished Award for Justice as a “man beholden to no one except to his country” and a Senate Resolution No. 100 enacted in the 8th Congress commending him for his invaluable services to the Filipino people.

Congress

Arroyo ran independent for the position of Congressman in the lone district of Makati in 1992. He was a popular figure in the House of Representatives with a 100% attendance record for 9 years from the time he was elected up to the end of his last term. He was in caucus with the PDP-Laban. His passed several national bills and some local bills like the creation of the City of Makati and the second district of Makati. On November 2000, he was one of the last congressmen who signed the endorsement for the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada. He was voted as the Lead Prosecutor for the Impeachment Trial on December 2000. He fought for the opening of the second bank envelope and present it as a critical evidence for the prosecution of Estrada. The Senate voted down his request and it led to the second EDSA Revolution. His role in the impeachment trial earned him as one of preferred choice in the SWS and Pulse Asia survey for the Senate race. The new government, led by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo convinced Congressman Arroyo to run for the Senate. Arroyo received a huge number of votes from the electorate.

enate

He has chaired the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, and the Senate Public Services Committee, during the 13th congress. He claimed to have never traveled abroad on government money and his Statement of Assets and Liabilities has remained almost unchanged from the time he entered public service in 1986. [ [http://www.inq7.net/nat/2004/feb/16/nat_5-1.htm "Joker Arroyo retains title of 'Scrooge' of Congress"] , "INQ7.NET", February 16, 2004. Link is inactive as of February 21, 2007.] [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20040223101139/http://www.inq7.net/nat/2004/feb/16/nat_5-1.htm Web Archive version] retrieved on February 21, 2007.]

Personal life

Joker Arroyo has been married twice. His first wife is Gregg Shoes entrepreneur Odelia Gregorio. Their eldest daughter is Ma. Antonia Odelia “Maoi” Gregorio Arroyo, CEO of Hybridigm Consulting, the first biotechnology commercialization firm in the Philippines. Maoi was hailed by Entrepreneur MagazineEntrepreneur Magazine April 2006.] as one of the top 35 entrepreneurs under 35 in the Philippines. His second daughter, Ma. Zef Francisca "Baba" Arroyo, is an entrepreneur, artist, and budding chef. His second wife is Felicitas S. Aquino, a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission. Their daughter is Joker’s namesake and a champion equestrian. Contary to news reports, the younger Joker has graduated from the British School Manila, and is now studying at Yale University.Newsbreak Magazine June 2006.]

References

External links

* [http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/arroyo_bio.htm Senate of the Philippines - Joker Arroyo]
* [http://www.pipolsdragon.com.ph ]
* [http://www.10fingersdesigns.com/joker ]