Rene A.V. Saguisag

Rene Augusto Verceluz Saguisag (; August 14, 1939 – April 24, 2024) was a Filipino lawyer and politician. He served as a Senator from 1987 until 1992.

Saguisag became a human rights lawyer from 1972 to 1986 during the Martial Law period and served as the Presidential Spokesperson of Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1987. After serving as a Senator for one term, he became a defense lawyer during the trial of Joseph Estrada.

Early life Rene Augusto Verceluz Saguisag was born on August 14, 1939, in Mauban, Tayabas, Philippines to Antonio Lozada Saguisag Sr., an engineering graduate from the National University and Eusebia Nivadura Verceluz, whom Rene described as a Spanish-looking mestiza housewife. Saguisag is also the nephew of Sen. Jovito R. Salonga, specifically Salonga is the second cousin once removed of Saguisag, as Saguisag's paternal grandmother Talia Saguisag is the first cousin of Salonga's mother Dinang Reyes. Saguisag grew up in Pasig, Rizal and attended elementary school at Makati Elementary School, quickly accelerated to the second grade in a few weeks, and graduated in 1951 instead of 1952. He graduated from Rizal High School in 1955, which led Saguisag to claim because he finished basic schooling in nine years the K-12 program is inconsequential for the Philippine education system. Saguisag then started out his Philippine career as a student researcher, then associate, and eventually part-time member of Ledesma, Guytingco, Velasco and Saguisag from 1962 to 1972. He became a member of the San Beda Law Faculty (Assistant Dean 1971–1972) from 1961 to 1972, and eventually returned to teach Political law and other related subjects after martial law. He joined the Free Legal Assistance Group or FLAG, an organization founded in late 1974 by fellow oppositionists and principal litigation mentors in Saguisag's young career, FLAG chairman Sen. Jose W. Diokno and former Sen. Lorenzo M. Tañada. Their cases became landmark Supreme Court decisions, including Olaguer v. Military Commission No. 34, 150 SCRA 144 (1987).

Presidential spokesperson

After the 1986 EDSA Revolution, he served as a spokesman for then-President-elect Corazon Aquino or "Cory" beginning on January 22, 1986.

A year later in January 1987, Aquino offered Saguisag opportunity to become Justice of the Supreme Court, which would have made him the youngest to justice to be appointed to the court at the time. Aquino had even already signed the appointment papers, but Saguisag refused the appointment.

Saguisag later recounted that Pres. Cory Aquino would often push him to run for the senate, teased him that it was her intent to become her successor. Eventually Saguisag decided to run for senator in the first constitutional election held in 1987. He won the election, placing ninth out of twenty-four winning positions. He stayed in the Senate until the end of his promised one term, in 1992.

Saguisag was the co-author with his uncle, Jovito Salonga of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (R.A. 6713), the main author of the Ombudsman Act of 1989 (R.A. 6770), and was one of the 12 senators who voted against the extension of the U.S. military bases treaty in 1991. Saguisag was frequently commuting through a taxi and bringing his own lunch instead of catering offered from the taxpayers.

Saguisag became one of the leading defense lawyers in the trial of former President Estrada. At this point Saguisag's law firm, the Rene A.V. Saguisag Law Office became a prominent law firm, and many prominent lawyers worked under Saguisag such as former Napocor President Cyril del Callar. Saguisag remained focused on his law firm and on teaching human rights and the rule of law. He continued to make appearances and discuss the political situation in news shows and articles.

Later activities

Atty. Saguisag was a columnist for the Manila Times with his column entitled "TGIF",

Saguisag also wrote some popular books, including Saguisag Wit – 1 and Saguisag Wit – 2. In the books he discussed about his life lessons, and his opinion on the people he worked with, including his friend, the late senator Joker Arroyo. Saguisag still frequently made appearances to give his review and criticism of the modern administrations, including their policies such as the war on drugs of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, and the disinformation spread by the political dynasty of Imelda Marcos, the wife of former dictator Marcos. The disinformation campaign has been used to promote fabricated lies and boost the appeal of the Bongbong Marcos administration. An instance of Saguisag's commentary was when he critiqued the burial of Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, and stated that the Supreme Court's decision to allow the burial since there are no laws disallowing it was absurd. He stated that Marcos's name may also be engraved at the Martial law memorial, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani if common sense is removed from the minds of the judges.

Personal life Saguisag married Dulce M. Quintans, who was a former Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development under President Joseph Estrada, in Manila on December 27, 1969. They first met in 1968 during his days at Harvard University. Rene eventually proposed saying, "I am poor. I come from a very poor family. I have no money, and I have no belongings, so I don’t want to marry a rich girl. So tell me now, are you rich?" She replied no, to which Rene proposed and then told Mrs. Quintans, his eventual mother-in-law, that he promised to love and care for her daughter for the rest of his life. Dulce, however came from a notable political family, being a descendant of Senator Daniel Maramba, who was also the governor of Pangasinan. The couple then had five children, Rene Andrei Jr. or Rebo, Lara, Nonoy, Lawrence Mikhail, and Caissa. Rene's grandchildren include Rene III who is about 70 years younger. He sustained head and chest injuries with seven fractured ribs, while his driver was injured and Dulce's life was taken. The funeral was held at St. Scholastica's College by Benedictine priests, including Dulce's cousin Dom Benildus Maramba.

Saguisag was left in critical condition following the collision. His injuries included seven broken ribs and small blood clots in his brain. However, his doctors stated that he had a "very good chance" of a full recovery.

Rene and Dulce's youngest daughter, Caissa Saguisag is a gymnast, but a knee injury ended her quest for gold at the 24th Southeast Asian Games. Their son, Rebo, is also a lawyer who is the executive director and former commissioner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, and a city councilor of Makati from 2019 to 2025. Rebo also joined MABINI. According to Saguisag, FLAG pursued a policy of recruiting young lawyers, while MABINI has become an old law firm, which also includes Mayor Abby Binay, whose father Jejomar Binay was vice-president. Saguisag claimed that MABINI has become more "MABINAY" or biased for the Binay dynasty. However, they continued to maintain their friendship from their time at FLAG and MABINI, and spoke out together against the red-tagging from ex-President Duterte and his generals, including Antonio Parlade. Though he did not vote for former President Joseph Estrada, implying he was a substandard president, his wife Dulce worked for Estrada, and Saguisag, like many was completely aghast at the Second EDSA Revolution because it stood against constitutional procedures and devolved into a mob rule. In terms of personal beliefs, Saguisag always maintained a strong faith as a practicing Catholic.

Death Saguisag died on April 24, 2024, at the age of 84. He had made his final public appearance on April 9 (Day of Valor) at a ceremony at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.

On April 26, 2024, his wake was held at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church, Multipurpose Capilla de Virgen, McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati.

On May 7, 2024, the Senate of the Philippines flew its national flag at half-mast and approved Resolution No. 1009, which honored Saguisag.

Awards

Lifetime Achievement Awardee, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (2001) Bedan of the Century, San Beda University (2001)