Preceded by Conrado M. Vasquez Name Aniano Desierto Nationality Filipino Role Government official | Profession Politician Succeeded by Simeon V. Marcelo Religion Roman Catholic | |
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President Fidel V. RamosJoseph EstradaGloria Macapagal-Arroyo Born April 25, 1935 (age 89) Cebu City, Philippine Islands ( 1935-04-25 ) Education University of the Philippines | ||
Aniano Aguilar Desierto (born April 25, 1935) is a former Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines from 1995-2002. He headed the Ombudsman Office which investigates all government officials who defy the law of conduct. He assumed the Office of the Philippine Ombudsman on August 4, 1995 as the second person to head the post.
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Personal life
Desierto was born on April 25, 1935 in Cebu City. He received his secondary education at the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City, where he also obtained an Associate in Arts. He later obtained Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees at the University of the Philippines, Diliman in 1957, and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1958. Desierto also took up General Management and Marketing Courses at the Ateneo de Manila University and a master's degree at the Philippine Christian University.
Desierto was once the Provincial Division Manager of the Manila Broadcasting Company and of the Metropolitan Broadcasting Company. He is married to Commissioner Teresita A. Desierto.
Career
From 1961 to 1974, Desierto was engaged in private law practice in Cebu and Manila. He started his career in the government service when he was appointed as Judge Advocate, Office of the AFP Judge Advocate General in 1974. In 1988, he was appointed Deputy Judge Advocate General. He later served as The Special Prosecutor of the Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Ombudsman from April 1, 1991 to August 3, 1995.
On August 4, 1995, he was appointed Ombudsman by then President Fidel V. Ramos. He served until he retired, or "finish(ed) my term" as he stated it, in August 2002. He was criticized by some for not aggressively investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption. After he left office, he unsuccessfully sought a slot on the country's Supreme Court.