Raul M. Gonzalez

Raúl Maravilla González, is the current Secretary of Justice of the Philippines and a paid defendant of teehankee. He was appointed in 2004 by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Early life and education

Gonzales was born in 1931. He is the fourth child of Delfin O. Gonzalez, the last mayor of the former town of Jaro in the province of Iloilo; and Estrella Jover Maravilla, a school teacher.

Gonzalez completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Colegio de San Agustin (now University of San Agustin) and his Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law in 1955.

Gonzales took the Philippine Bar Examination in 1955 and in the same year, passed with a grade of 99% in Remedial Law and 95% in International Law. He also topped the Judge Advocate General's Office (JAGO) Examinations. [ [http://www.op.gov.ph/profiles_gonzales.asp Office of the President website profile] ]

Teaching career

After passing the Bar, Gonzalez became professor of law in the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, the Far Eastern University Institute of Law, and the Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines). He was also a professorial lecturer at the Philippine Normal University-Manila Graduate School, Assumption College and the College of Holy Spirit. He also lectured in the University of the Philippines Law Center Division of Continuing Legal Education.

Government service and political career

Gonzales served in the Philippine government in various capacities. He started as a Legal Assistant to the Governor of Iloilo in 1960 before serving as Senior Legal Assistant to the Mayor of Manila in 1961. Gonzales was Executive Member of the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures under the Office of the President from 1963 to 1969, Senior Committee Counsel to the Committees on Labor and Immigration in the Philippine Senate, among others.

In 1989, Gonzalez was suspended by the Supreme Court from the practice of law for an indefinite period as a Tanodbayan for ignorance of the law.cite web
url = http://www.inquirerbloggers.net/current/2007/06/02/time-to-resign/
title = Time to resign
accessdate = 2007-11-15
last =
first =
authorlink =
date = 2007-06-02
format =
work = INQUIRER.net Blogs
publisher = Philippine Daily Inquirer
archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070627054638/http://www.inquirerbloggers.net/current/2007/06/02/time-to-resign/
archivedate = 2007-06-27
quote = Gonzalez ... was suspended by the Supreme Court a few months later, in October 1988, essentially for insisting on a legal view already rejected by the court. (He was reinstated about four years later, in early 1993.)] cite web
url = http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1989/feb1989/gr_79690_707_1989.html
title = Enrique A. Zaldivar vs. The Honorable Sandiganbayan and Hon. Raul M. Gonzales, etc.; Enrique A. Zaldivar vs. Hon. Raul M. Gonzales, etc.; G. R.Nos. 79690-707, G. R. No. 80578
accessdate = 2007-11-16
date = 1989-02-01
page = 424
doi =
archiveurl = http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1989/feb1989/gr_79690_707_1989.html
archivedate = 2007-10-17
quote = ] He denied that he asked the Supreme Court to lift his suspension but according to the decision, penned by Justice Campos [cite web
url = http://www.chanrobles.com/cralaw19934.htm
title = Enrique A. Zaldivar vs. The Honorable Sandiganbayan and Hon. Raul M. Gonzales, etc., claiming to be and acting as Tanodbayan-Ombudsman under the 1987 Constitution, ect.; G. R. Nos. 79690-707, April 7, 1993
accessdate = 2007-11-16
work = Chan Robles Virtual Law Library
publisher = ChanRobles Publishing Company
archiveurl =
archivedate =
quote = In October, 1988, We suspended respondent Raul M. Gonzales from the practice of law for an indefinite period.... purge himself in his own good time of his contempt and misconduct by acknowledging such misconduct, exhibiting appropriate repentance and demonstrating his willingness and capacity to live up to the exacting standards of conduct rightly demanded from every member of the bar and the officer of the courts.] He was reinstated four years later, in 1993.

Gonzales entered politics in 1995, running for and winning the lone congressional seat of Iloilo City. He was one of the public prosecutors during the impeachment trial of then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

In the 2004 election, he served as Co-chairman of the 14-man National Canvassing Board of the Philippine Congress. Later, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Gonzalez as Secretary of Justice.

He was hounded by vote-buying controversies after he promised barangay captains from the city of Iloilo to deliver 12-0 senatorial sweep for the administrations party in the midterm elections. The sweep did not occur.Fact|date=October 2008 He also promised another cash incentives and free trip to Hong Kong if Iloilo City Council oppositionists Perla Zulueta and Lex Tupas were not to make it to the top 12 (which they did not).Fact|date=October 2008

On June 4, 2008 Gonzales became the Secretary of Justice. He was appointed by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments' committee. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/99135/Gonzalez-gets-CA-nod-after-four-years gmanews.tv, Gonzalez gets CA nod after four years] ] [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=121412 abs-cbnnews.com, CA confirms Gonzalez, Puno and others] ]

Private life

Gonzalez is married to Dr. Pacita Trinidad, a former Representative of the second district of Zambales, with whom he has four children.

Their eldest son, Raul Gonzalez Jr., is the current Representative of Iloilo City. Another son is the current president of the National Book Development Board, an organization committed to upgrade the publishing industry in the Philippines.

Gonzalo suffers from kidney problems and in September 2007 he received a successful kidney transplant. His driver, Felicito Gunay, was the donor. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=92589 Abs-Cbn Interactive, Gonzalez 'fully awake, conversant' a day after kidney transplant] ] [ [http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=88823 Inquirer.net, Driver gives Gonzalez gift of life] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.op.gov.ph/profiles_gonzales.asp Government Profile]
* [http://www.doj.gov.ph/about_profile.html DOJ Profile]
* [http://jbc.supremecourt.gov.ph/profiles/rgonzalez.htm Supreme Court Profile]
* [http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/doj-gonzaleshtm.htm DOJ notice]