Perfecto Yasay Jr.
| Perfecto Yasay Jr. | |
|---|---|
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| Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ad interim | |
|
In office June 30, 2016 – March 8, 2017[1] | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Jose Rene Almendras (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Enrique Manalo (Acting) |
| Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission | |
|
In office 1995–2000 | |
| President |
Fidel Ramos Joseph Estrada |
| Preceded by | Manuel G. Abello |
| Succeeded by | Lilia R. Bautista |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Perfecto Rivas Yasay Jr. January 27, 1947 Kidapawan, Philippines |
| Political party | Bangon Pilipinas |
| Spouse(s) | Cecile Joaquin |
| Alma mater |
Central Philippine University University of the Philippines, Diliman Ateneo de Manila University |
| Website | Official website |
Perfecto "Jun" Rivas Yasay Jr. (born January 27, 1947) is a Filipino formerly-American bureaucrat who served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines in an ad interim basis from June 30, 2016 until March 8, 2017, the rejection of his appointment by the Commission on Appointment over eligibility concerns resulting from questions on his citizenship.
He served as former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and was Bangon Pilipinas Party's vice-presidential candidate in the 2010 Philippine elections, running alongside Eddie Villanueva.
Early life and education
Yasay was born on January 27, 1947 to Perfecto Yasay Sr., a pastor, and Deborah Rivas, a public school teacher, in Kidapawan, North Cotabato. He finished his secondary education at Davao City High School in 1963 and received his Bachelor of Arts in political science at Central Philippine University, Iloilo City in 1967. He earned his law degree at the University of the Philippines and has MBA units in business studies from Ateneo de Manila University.
Career
Legal work
Yasay became a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Civil, criminal, and administrative litigation, public advocacy, corporation law, and election law are among his areas of expertise. While in New York, he was managing director of the Maceda Philippine News from 1983 to 1987 and senior partner at two law firms—Maceda, Yasay & Tolentino, Esqs., and Yasay & De Castro, Esqs.—from 1979 to 1990. In the Philippines, he was commissioner of San Jose, Yasay & Santos Law Offices from 1987 to 1993. Yasay is also an incorporator of Jacinto Finance, Marilene J. Group Corp., and Cricem Inc. He is also a stockholder of M and F Stores Inc.
SEC Chairman
In 1993, he was assigned as associate commissioner of SEC. He was chairman from 1995 to 2000.
Estrada impeachment trial
Yasay was among those who testified in the impeachment trial against President Joseph Estrada on charges of corruption. The probe led to the ouster of Estrada, known as EDSA People Power II in 2001.
On February 15, 2010, Yasay apologized to Estrada for “hurting and offending him” but clarified that this was not a retraction of his testimony on the deposed president's “abuse of authority and corruption.”
2010 vice presidential bid
On November 29, 2009, he accepted the nomination of the Bangon Pilipinas Party to be its candidate for vice president as the running mate of Jesus is Lord Church founder and president Eddie Villanueva. In a statement, he said that he has also been offered a slot in the senatorial slate of three other political parties. Among his campaign platform points, Yasay conveyed that the practice of using big-name endorsers should be stopped because it makes the elections a matter of money and popularity. He also said that the voters' will only base their votes via the endorsers of the candidate, and that the biggest setback in the fight against corruption was the quick pardon of Joseph Estrada. Yasay lost to Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay in the vice-presidential elections.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
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He accepted the offer of President Rodrigo Duterte to join his Cabinet on May 18, 2016.[2] During his tenure he represented the Duterte administration's policy of an "independent foreign policy" distancing the Philippines from the United States. According to Yasay, the United States has used a "carrot and stick" foreign policy in regards to the Philippines since for their own interest to the detriment of the latter.[3] Yasay was meant by Duterte to serve the post until mid-2017, when Duterte plans to appoint his running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, as his successor.[4] On March 8, 2017, however, Yasay's appointment was rejected by a unanimous vote of 15-0 by the Commission on Appointments due to questions about his Philippine citizenship status after a period of United States citizenship.[5][6]
Board memberships and philanthropy
He is past chairman of the Board of Trustees of Central Philippine University.
Personal life
He is married to former Population Commission executive director Cecile Joaquin and has three children, all United States citizens. He used to have American citizenship until 2016 but has yet to retake the Philippine oath of citizenship; there is debate whether he is now stateless or not.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Corrales, Nestor (March 9, 2017). "Enrique Manalo named DFA acting secretary after Yasay rejection". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ↑ "Yasay accepts Duterte offer to be acting DFA chief". Rappler. Retrieved May 30, 2016.
- ↑ Palumbarit, Veronica (6 October 2016). "Yasay on PHL's shift in foreign policy: 'America has failed us'". GMA News. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ↑ "Alan Peter to replace Yasay in DFA". The Philippine Star. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ↑ Fernandez, Butch (8 March 2017). "CA rejects Yasay, defers Lopez’s confirmation". Business Mirror. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ↑ Ager, Maila (March 8, 2017). "CA rejects appointment of Yasay". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
- ↑ ""Yasay: American, Filipino or stateless?"". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Manuel G. Abello |
Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission 1995-2000 |
Succeeded by Lilia R. Bautista |
| Preceded by Jose Rene Almendras Acting |
Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ad interim 2016–2017 |
Succeeded by Enrique Manalo Acting |