Nationality Filipino | Profession Lawyer | |
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Full Name Salvador San Buenaventura Panelo Occupation Politician, radio journalist Children Salvador Carlo Panelo III, Ramona Francesca, Salvador Angelo Panelo IV, Salvador Panelo Jr. Similar Salvador Medialdea, Jesus Dureza, Perfecto Yasay Jr, Ernesto Abella, Carlos Dominguez III | ||
Salvador "Sal" San Buenaventura Panelo is a Filipino lawyer from Camarines Sur, Philippines. He is the Chief Legal Counsel of President Rodrigo Duterte who also served as the former Davao City Mayor's legal adviser during his 2016 presidential campaign. As a private lawyer, he has handled cases involving politicians and other controversial personalities. He is also a former Director of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
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Early life and education
Panelo is a native of Naga, Camarines Sur. He moved to Manila for his college education at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1966, where he earned his BS Political Science and BA English degrees in 1971. As a student at the UP Diliman, he was involved in student activism during the pre-Martial law period. He stayed at UP Diliman and completed law school at the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1974. He passed the Philippine Bar Examination the same year.
Early works
Panelo first 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 as a radio anchor at DZEC Radyo Agila where he worked for one year. It was also in 1987 when he started his private law practice.
Notable controversial cases
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, Senator Bong Revilla who was one of the accused in the 2013 Priority Development Assistance Fund scam, and the family of former President Ferdinand Marcos in relation to recovering their alleged 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.
Other works
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. He was an unsuccessful candidate of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan in the 1992 Senate election. Prior to joining the government of Rodrigo Duterte on June 30, 2016, he was his legal counsel and defense lawyer on the charges of hidden wealth by Vice Presidential candidate Antonio Trillanes during the presidential campaign. He eventually served as the President-elect's transitional spokesperson before being designated as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.
Personal life
Panelo had a son, Carlo, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Carlo died of heart complications from the syndrome on January 6, 2017 at the age of 27.