Salvador Panelo

Salvador San Buenaventura Panelo (born September 23, 1946) is a Filipino lawyer who served as President Rodrigo Duterte's Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (2016–2021) and Presidential Spokesperson (2018–2020). He was also the legal adviser during Duterte's 2016 presidential campaign. As a private lawyer, he has handled cases involving politicians and other controversial personalities. He is a former director of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

Panelo unsuccessfully ran for senator thrice: in 1987 and 1992 under the party Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and later in 2022 under the party PDP–Laban. He was later named by fellow senatorial candidate Robin Padilla as his legislative adviser and mentor in the Senate.

Early life and education Panelo was born in Naga, Camarines Sur to an Ilocano father from Tubao, La Unión and a Bicolana mother from Camarines Sur. He studied elementary school at the Murphy Elementary School and high school at the Roosevelt Memorial High School (AY 1959–1962). He earned his BA in Political Science and BA English degrees at University of Nueva Cáceres. He moved to Manila to go to the University of the Philippines College of Law for his law education. As a student at the University of the Philippines Diliman and a member of the Sigma Rho fraternity, he was involved in student activism during the pre-martial law period.

Career Presidential Chief Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Salvador Panelo holds a press conference for the Malacañang Press Corps at the Impact Challenger in Nonthaburi, Thailand in November 2019.

Early works Panelo started practiced law at United Laboratories where he served as the company's legal counsel from 1977 to 1987. He assumed the directorship of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in 1983 and presidency of the IBP Rizal Chapter in 1985. In 1987, he was hired and worked as a radio anchor at DZEC Radyo Agila for one year. It was also in 1987 when he started his private law practice.

Private practice In his 40 years of law practice, he served as the defense lawyer of prominent politicians such as Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. who was implicated in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez who was tried for the 1993 Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez murder, and the family of former President Ferdinand Marcos in relation to recovering their ill-gotten wealth.

Panelo also lawyered for former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos who was embroiled in the 2007 elections scandal, Philip Medel who was convicted in the murder of actress Nida Blanca, and the family of slain racing champion Enzo Pastor. His other clients include celebrities such as Deniece Cornejo in her 2014 rape case against actor Vhong Navarro, and Dennis Roldan who was convicted of kidnapping a Filipino-Chinese boy in 2005. Panelo created the program for the purpose of "discussing the issues affecting our country," as well as to "analyze, dissect issues raised by certain critics and others against certain policies of the government". Later on, he returned to his talk show Counterpoint, now airing on Net 25. He also writes his column published weekly in The Manila Times.

Personal life Panelo resides in Marikina. He had a son, Carlo, who died of heart complications from Down syndrome on January 6, 2017, at the age of 27. Another son of his, Salvador Jr., is the lawyer of Vice President Sara Duterte in her perjury case against Ramil Madriaga, a witness in her impeachment case.

Panelo is a member the Rotary Club of Makati Southwest chapter, a member of the Board of Trustees of the San Beda Law Alumni Association, and Secretary General of the Asean Law Association Golfers' Club.

Electoral history