Marcelo Fernan
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| Marcelo B. Fernan | |
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| In office July 1, 1988 – December 6, 1991 |
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| Appointed by | Corazon Aquino |
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| Preceded by | Pedro L. Yap |
| Succeeded by | Andres R. Narvasa |
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| In office April 9, 1986 – June 30, 1988 |
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| Appointed by | Corazon Aquino |
| Preceded by | Lorenzo Relova |
| Succeeded by | Florenz D. Regalado |
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| Born | October 24, 1927 Cebu City |
| Died | July 11, 1999 Manila |
Marcelo Briones Fernán (October 24, 1927–July 11, 1999) was a Filipino lawyer and political figure. He is the only Filipino to have served as both Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and as Senate president. He is also the third Filipino to have headed both the judicial and legislative branches of government, after Querube Makalintal who served as Chief Justice and Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa in the 1970s, and Jose Yulo, who served as Chief Justice and Speaker of the House of Representatives before 1946.
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[edit] Early life and career
Fernán was born in Cebu City to mestizo parents. In 1953 he graduated with a degree in law from the University of the Philippines. He went to Harvard University in United States to obtain his masters degree. He returned to the Philippines soon after and entered politics as a delegate to the National Constitutional Convention. In 1977, he was elected national president of the Integrated Bar (National Lawyers Organization) and on 1988 became the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
[edit] Political life
He resigned as Chief Justice in 1991 to pursue running as president. He accepted the offer of Ramon Mitra as his vice presidential candidate of the LDP Party. In the 1992 elections, he however lost to actor and Senator Joseph Estrada. In the 1995 elections, Fernán ran for the Senate under the Lakas-Laban coalition and was elected. Fernán was elected Senate president at the opening of the 11th Congress in 1998. He was one who approved the US-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (Treaty) in 1999.
Fernán resigned the senate presidency on June 28, 1999 due to his failing health. He died of cancer only days later, on July 11 in Manila. He was buried in Cebu City. A newly built bridge was named after him linking Mandaue City to Mactan Island.
[edit] Trivia
When he was a member of the opposition in the Batasang Pambansa, he would sing the song 'Feelings' in public during demonstrations against the Marcos regime. But he stopped such practice after being appointed to the Supreme Court.
His Uncle, Manuel Briones, was also a Supreme Court justice from 1945-1949. Like Fernan, Briones also ran and lost for the Vice-Presidency in 1949.
[edit] External link
| Preceded by Neptali Gonzales |
President of the Senate 1998–1999 |
Succeeded by Blas F. Ople |
| Preceded by Pedro Yap |
Chief Justice of the Philippines 1988–1991 |
Succeeded by Andres Narvasa |
| Preceded by Lorenzo Relova |
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines 1986-1988 |
Succeeded by Florenz D. Regalado |
