Preceded by Leonardo A. Quisumbing Spouse(s) Expedita Sabile Perez | Succeeded by Samuel R. Martires | |
 | ||
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Full Name Jose Portugal Perez Born December 14, 1946 (age 70)
Batangas City, Philippines ( 1946-12-14 ) Children Jerico, Zernan, Donnabelle Alma mater University of the Philippines Education University of the Philippines | ||
Jose Portugal Perez (born December 14, 1946) is a Filipino lawyer who is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines since 2009. Perez holds the distinction of being the first and only insider Associate Justice. He had served in the Supreme Court of the Philippines since 1971 starting as Technical assistant and steadily rose from the ranks until his appointment as the Court Administrator in 2008.
Contents
Early life and education
Perez was born December 14, 1946. His parents are Luciano G. Perez and Engracia R. Portugal, both of Ibaan, Batangas. He finished elementary as a salutatorian in St. Bridget College in 1959. He then graduated as valedictorian of the Batangas City High School in 1963. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of the Philippines in 1967 wherein he is one of its top 10 graduates. He then took up Bachelor of Laws from University of the Philippines College of Law where he finished again in top 10 in 1971. Due to his academic achievements he gained entry to Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Gamma Mu Honor Societies as well as the university's law honor society the Order of the Purple Feather.
Career
Fresh from graduation Perez started working at the Supreme Court of the Philippines as Technical Assistant (1971–1972), Legal Assistant (1972–1973) then as Judicial Assistant (1974–1976). In 1977 he became confidential attorney in the Office of Chief Justice Fred Ruiz Castro. In 1980 he was the supervising attorney in the office of the Chief Attorney where he rose to the position of Assistant Chief. In 1987 he was named a Deputy Clerk of the Court, promoted as Assistant Court Administrator in 1996 then finally as Deputy Court Administrator in 2000. He have served as acting Court Administrator several times before his appointment as Court Administrator in 2008. Following the retirement of Associate Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing on November 6, 2009 Perez was appointed by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as her 14th appointee to the high tribunal.
In 2012 he was nominated by the Asia Pacific Bar Association for the Chief Justice position vacated by Renato Corona.