| Teofisto Guingona, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| 13th Vice President of the Philippines | |
| In office February 7, 2001 – June 30, 2004 |
|
| President | Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| Preceded by | Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| Succeeded by | Noli de Castro |
| Secretary of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office February 7, 2001 – July 15, 2002 |
|
| President | Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| Preceded by | Domingo Siazon |
| Succeeded by | Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| Secretary of Justice | |
| In office May 20, 1995 – February 3, 1998 |
|
| President | Fidel Ramos |
| Preceded by | Demetrio G. Demetria |
| Succeeded by | Silvestre H. Bello III |
| Executive Secretary | |
| In office June 1993 – May 20, 1995 |
|
| President | Fidel Ramos |
| 12th and 15th President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines | |
| In office January 18, 1993 – June 1993 |
|
| President | Fidel Ramos |
| Preceded by | Ernesto Maceda |
| Succeeded by | Leticia Ramos Shahani |
| In office July 27, 1987 – July 23, 1990 |
|
| President | Corazon Aquino |
| Preceded by | None Title last held by Jose Roy |
| Succeeded by | Sotero Laurel |
| Majority leader of the Senate of the Philippines | |
| In office 1990 – January 1, 1992 |
|
| President | Corazon Aquino |
| Preceded by | Orly Mercado |
| Succeeded by | Alberto Romulo |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office June 30, 1998 – February 7, 2001 |
|
| In office June 30, 1987 – June 1993 |
|
| Chairman of the Commission on Audit | |
| In office 1986–1987 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 4, 1928 San Juan, Rizal |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | Independent (Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats until 2003) |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth de Lara (incumbent mayor of Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental) |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Teofisto Tayko Guingona, Jr. (born July 4, 1928 in San Juan, Rizal) was the Vice President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2004 during the first term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
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Born in San Juan, Rizal on July 4, 1928 to Teofisto Guingona, Sr., a former assemblyman, senator, judge and commissioner from Guimaras, Iloilo and Josefa Tayko of Siaton, Negros Oriental, he grew up in Mindanao where he completed his elementary schooling with honors in Ateneo de Cagayan.[1]
He pursued his studies at the Ateneo de Manila University as a working student, teaching history and political science while taking up courses in law and economics. He took up special studies in Public Administration, Economics, Sociology and Audit. After graduation, Tito went into business and became a Governor of the Development Bank of the Philippines and President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.[1]
Tito was a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention and when Martial Law was declared in 1972, he staunchly resisted the abuses of the regime, serving as a human rights lawyer and defender of the oppressed. He founded SANDATA and became the honorary chairman of BANDILA, two mass-based organizations dedicated to social and economic reforms. Because of his opposition to martial rule he was jailed twice, first in 1972 and then in 1978.[1]
When the dictator was ousted, the new President appointed Tito as Chairman of the Commission on Audit where he gained renown as a no-nonsense graft buster. He did not stay long in the Commission on Audit, however, for he was drafted to run for a Senate seat.[1]
Guingona was first elected to the upper chamber in 1987. In the Senate, Tito was Senate President Pro-tempore and Majority Leader. He also chaired the Blue Ribbon Committee.[1]
Tito’s concern for the welfare of his kababayans in Mindanao is apparent when he served as director and chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority and the Mindanao Labor Management Advisory Council respectively.[1]
Re-elected in 1992, Guingona placed 14th in the senate race. When Fidel V. Ramos was elected President, he appointed Tito as Executive Secretary and later as Justice Secretary. Tito's stint at the DOJ was marked with notable accomplishments and significant reforms. He rejuvenated the Witness Protection Program and established the Prosecution Academy. He also beefed up the implementation of the Katarungang Pambarangay and heightened public awareness of the Barangay Justice Program. Before Tito closed out his term as Justice Secretary, he also held, in a concurrent capacity, the chairmanship of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission.
In 1998 Tito was once again elected Senator and was chosen by his peers as the Minority Leader. He boldly spoke out against the anomalies in the Estrada Administration and was the first to call for the resignation of President Joseph Estrada. Tito exposed the graft and corruption, culpable violations of the Constitution, and cronyism in the Estrada Administration that led to the impeachment trial of Estrada by the Senate. When Estrada was ousted by EDSA II, Tito emerged as the logical choice for a successor to Vice President Arroyo.[1]
In 2001, following the EDSA II Revolution, Guingona was appointed vice-president by president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.[2][3] He also concurrently served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. During his time as vice-president, he was often at odds with Arroyo, particularly over politics. He lost his Foreign Affairs post soon after.
In the 2004 Philippine elections, Guingona did not run for the full-term election and was succeeded by Noli de Castro. In that election, he controversially supported the presidential bid of opposition candidate Fernando Poe, Jr., who lost.[1]
After the defeat of his candidate Fernando Poe, Jr., Guingona supported the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by accepting the position of Ambassador to China. When Guingona thought that President Arroyo's term was in danger after the Hyatt 10 incident, he resigned as ambassador and joined the opposition again. However, Arroyo finished her term. Guingona continues his attacks on Arroyo to remain in the political limelight.
On December 13, 2007, the Makati City court dismissed Rebellion cases against Teofisto Guingona, Jr.,and others.[4]
Guingona wrote his 346-page book, “Fight for the Filipino,” which contains his memoirs. It is set for launching on July 4, 2008, his 80th birthday, at Manila Hotel.[5]
He is married to Ruth de Lara, the mayor of Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. His son, Teofisto III (TG) is the incumbent Senator of the 15th Congress of the Philippines.[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Demetrio G. Demetria |
Secretary of Justice of the Philippines May 20, 1995 – February 3, 1998 |
Succeeded by Silvestre H. Bello III |
| Preceded by Domingo Siazon, Jr. |
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines 2001–2002 |
Succeeded by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
| Vacant
Title last held by
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
Vice President of the Philippines February 7, 2001 – June 30, 2004 |
Succeeded by Noli de Castro |
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