MANILA, Philippines – Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas died Sunday night (Feb. 9) at 9:57PM (Philippine Time). He was 85.
The Supreme Court announced his death Monday in a tweet, and said that the Philippine flag at the Supreme Court quadrangle in Padre Faura, Manila was placed at half mast.
Cuevas was the Court’s 106th Associate Justice from June 1, 1984 to April 16, 1986. He was appointed by then former President Ferdinand Marcos.
“We extend our condolences to the family of the late Justice Serafin Cuevas who dedicated a good portion of his life and career to public service,” Presidential Communications Sec Herminio Coloma said in a statement to the media.
Details of the wake will be announced soon, said the Supreme Court Public Information Office.
Cuevas, who also served as secretary of the Department of Justice during the administration of former President Joseph Estrada from July 1, 1998 to February 15, 2000, is known for handling three impeachment cases in the country including that of the former President.
His last impeachment case was that of former SC chief justice Renato Corona where he stood as the lead defense counsel. He also served as the lead counsel of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez whose impeachment trial was aborted in early 2011 because of her resignation.
However, it was during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Corona that Cuevas’ brilliance in law caught the height of the public’s attention. His manner of defense and his respectful deliveries were praised by younger lawyers who revelled in the “golden age” of the Philippine legal profession. As a legal scholar noted, Justice Cuevas gave “free lectures” for the young lawyers involved in the said impeachment trial–which enlightened those who followed the proceedings on television.
At the time of the Corona impeachment trial in the Senate (January 16, 2012 until May 29, 2012) Cuevas was already 84, but still had a sharp mind that defied his age, observers said.
Serafin R. Cuevas was born on 25 June 1928 in Bacoor Cavite. He went to Las Piñas Elementary School for his elementary education and to the University of Manila for his secondary education. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1952 and passed the Bar examination the same year.
He started his career as a professorial lecturer at the College of Law of the University of the Philippines and at the Institute of Law of the Far Eastern University. Afterwards, he became an Assistant Fiscal of the City of Manila and then as Judge in the Court of First Instance.
Before his appointment as an Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of the Philippines on May 31, 1984, he was Associate Justice in the (then) Intermediate Appellate Court.
He also served in the Board of Trustees of New Era University, ultimately serving as the Chairman of the Board.
Cuevas was a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ).
Twitter and Facebook messages outpour for support and condolences to the passing of the well-respected Justice.
He is survived by wife Angelica Vecino and children Serafin Jr., Maria Leonora, Maria Angelica, and Ana Lisa.
(Eagle News Service)
