JUSTICE MAGDANGAL M. DE LEON

Magdangal de Leon (“Dangal”) is a product of the Philippine public school system and was recognized for leadership and academic excellence throughout his student years.He obtained his Foreign Service degree in the University of the Philippines where he became Secretary General of the U.P. Foreign Service Corps and was selected as member of the Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society and Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science Honor Society. He graduated from the U.P. College of Law, where he was among the top ten in his batch, aside from being chosen as most talented student. After a few years in private practice, starting with the law office of the prominent trial lawyer, Crispin Baizas, and later with Blanco Law Firm and Francisco Law Office, Dangal entered government service as a Trial Attorney in the office of the Solicitor General, the law firm of the Republic and its officials. Rising from the ranks, he was appointed Assistant Solicitor General (ASG) by President Aquino in 1991. Recently, he was appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals by President Arroyo.

As ASG, he had handled several significant cases, among which are the Bataan Petrochem, Manila Hotel, Petron privatization, Eastern Telecoms, Rolito Go and party List cases, and more recently, the PIATCO, Kuratong Baleleng, Photokina, LDP, Misuari, Agus Dwikarna, Dacer-Corbito and Rod Strunk cases. He was also the head of many task forces in the OSG, including those for the DepEd, CHED, BI, BOC, SEC, BOC, PNOC and PEA. Likewise, he was a member of the Inter-Agency Task Forces on Illegal Logging and Illegal Fishing. Presently, he is a faculty member and bar reviewer at the Ateneo Law School and Chairman of the Las Piñas City Bar Association. In the international scene, he is a member of the International Consultants Group, Rules and Principles of Transnational Civil Procedure, sponsored by the American Law Institute. He has appeared and argued before the trial courts, including the Sandiganbayan, and also before the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, both division and en banc.
.

Educational Background:

Elementary: Moises Salvador Elementary School, Manila, 1960

Secondary: Ramon Avanceña High School, Manila, 1964

Bachelor of Science In Foreign Service: University of the Philippines, 1968

Bachelor of Laws: University of the Philippines, 1972

Honors and Distinction:

Valedictorian, Elementary

First Honors, High School

Entrance Scholar, U.P., 1964

College Scholar, U.P., 1965 – 1967

Best Orator, U.P. College of Law, 1970

Most Talented Student, U.P. College of Law, 1971

Among the Top Ten, U.P. Law Class ‘72

Member, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society

Member, Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science Honor Society

Commissioner’s Citation from the Bureau of Immigration for “his distinguished service to the cause of Philippine Immigration”

Special recognition and commendation from the Commission on Audit for “exceptional devotion to duty, legal expertise and masterful handling of court cases where COA is a party, thus aiding COA in fulfilling its constitutionally mandated functions”

Special commendation from the Dangerous Drugs Board for his "dedication to duty and relentless efforts in the drive against drug abuse and illicit trafficking”

Outstanding Rotarian in Public Service, Rotary Makati-Paseo de Roxas

Outstanding Alumnus Award, DECS-Manila

Outstanding Graduate in the field of law, Ramon Avanceña High School

Battig Music Award from St. Scholastica’s College

Plaques of appreciation for being an MCLE Lecturer on “Oral Advocacy”

Plaques of appreciation from various groups for being a guest speaker on Filipino cultural values

Former Positions and Affiliations:

President, RAHS Supreme Student Government

Managing Editor, “The Avanceñan”

Secretary-General, U.P. Foreign Service Corps

President, U.P. ROTC Band

Vice-President, U.P. French Club

Chairman, UPSCA Electoral College

Member, U.P. Debate Workshop

Member, U.P. International Club

Member, Samahan ng mga Makabayang Mag-aaral ng Batas

Member, Sanduguang Kayumanggi

Member, U.P. Concert Chorus

Member, Philippine Madrigal Singers

Faculty Member, La Consolacion College

Laperal Music School

Associate, Baizas Alberto & Associates: 1973 – 74

Associate, Blanco Law Firm: 1974 – 75

Associate, Francisco De Castro & Zulueta: 1975 – 76

Trial Attorney, Office of the Solicitor General: 1976 – 78

Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor General: 1978 – 91

Assistant Solicitor General: 1991 – 2004

Worshipful Master, Araw Lodge No. 18, F. & A.M.

Present Positions and Affiliations:

Associate Justice, Court of Appeals

Faculty Member, Ateneo Law School and Bar Reviewer,

Ateneo Law School and other law schools

Chairman, Las Piñas City Bar Association

Trustee, Center for Restorative Justice in Asia

Member, International Consultants Group,

Rules and Principles of Transnational Civil Procedure

Member, Philippine Bar Association

Member, Philippine Society of International Law

Member, International Law Association

Work Experience:

Though several years in private practice, immediately after passing the bar in 1973, with the law office of the prominent trial lawyer, Crispin Baizas, and, successively, with the Blanco and Francisco Law offices, and more than twenty seven (27) years in the Office of the Solicitor General, the law firm of the Republic, as Trial Attorney, Solicitor and Assistant Solicitor General, he had handled many significant cases, including the Bataan Petrochem, Manila Hotel, Petron privatization, Eastern Telecoms, Rolito Go and Party List cases, and more recently, the PIATCO, Kuratong Baleleng, Photokina, Misuari, Agus Dwikarna, Dacer-Corbito and Rod Strunk cases, and had appeared and argued before the trial courts, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

He also headed the following:

OSG-DepEd Task Force

OSG-CHED Task Force

OSG-BOC Task Force

OSG-BI Task Force

OSG-SEC Task Force

OSG-PNOC Task Force

OSG-PEA Task Force

OSG-FPA Task Force

and was a member of the following:

Inter-Agency Task Force on Cancellation of Fake Titles Involving MIAA Properties

Inter-Agency Task Force on Illegal Logging Inter-Agency Task Force on Illegal Fishing

He is also an MCLE lecturer on “Oral Advocacy.”

Conferences Attended:

16^th World Law Conference, Manila, October 1993

National Security Council Conference Workshop on Information Management and Global Competitiveness, Manila, October 1993

First ASEAN Attorneys General Conference, Jakarta, Indonesia, July 1995

17^th World Law Conference, Montreal, Canada, August 1995

National Conference on the Rule of Law and Democracy in the Philippines, Makati, June 1997

Southeast Asian Justices’ Symposium:The Law on Sustainable Development, Manila, March 1999

Conference on Transnational Civil Procedure, sponsored by the American Law Institute, Singapore, June 1999

19^th World Law Conference, Budapest, Hungary and Vienna, Austria, October 1999

First Follow-up Experts’ Conference on the International Criminal Court, Manila, October 2001

Second Follow-up Experts’ Conference on the International Criminal Court, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, October 2002

21^st World Law Conference, Sydney and Adelaide, Australia, August 2003

Special Achievements/Talents:

Composer, Philippine Army March, Philippine Coast Guard Hymn, IBP March, PLEB March, Rotary Hymn, Davao Millennium March, OSG March, U.P. Law Graduation Hymn,

Grand Lodge of the Philippines March, Demolay March, Demolay Prayer Hymn, Lingkod Bayan March, Golden Values School Song, among others.

Choral arranger, Philippine Madrigal Singers, Metropolitan Theater Choir, etc.

Conductor, Malacañang, DOH NIA and other choral groups.

Soloist, Inaugural Concert, National Arts Center, Los Baños, Laguna

Has been featured on stage, television and radio as a baritone.

Has conducted both the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Manila Symphony Orchestra

Has served as judge at the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and Yamaha Guitar Competition

Plays the flute, guitar, piano and rondalla instrument