The Filipino Profiles

Raul Gonzalez

Raul Maravilla González is the current Secretary of Justice of the Philippines. He was appointed in 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Gonzales was born in 1931. He is the fourth child of Delfin O. Gonzalez, the last mayor of the former town of Jaro in the province of Iloilo; and Estrella Jover Maravilla, a school teacher.

Gonzalez completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at the Colegio de San Agustin (now University of San Agustin) and his Bachelor of Law degree at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law in 1955.

Gonzales took the Philippine Bar Examination in 1955 and in the same year, passed with a grade of 99% in Remedial Law and 95% in International Law. He also topped the Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAGO) Examinations.

Other Information

• Name : Raúl Maravilla González
• Birthday : 1931
• Schools Attended :
  • Bachelor of Arts degree, Colegio de San Agustin (now University of San Agustin)
  • Bachelor of Law degree, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law (1955)
• Father : Delfin O. Gonzalez
• Mother : Estrella Jover Maravilla
• Spouse : Dr. Pacita Trinidad
• Children : 5
  • Raul, Jr.
  • Jose Mari
  • Dennis
  • Marigold
  • Charmaine

Career Highlights

• Secretary of Justice of the Philippines, incumbent
• Tanodbayan (OMBUDSMAN) and concurrently Special Prosecutor (April 4, 1986 tol December 30, 1988)
• Prosecutor, Aquino-Galman double murder cases
• Chairman, Escalante Massacre Fact Finding Commission and prosecuted the case against the accused
• Member of the Presidential Party, President Corazon Aquino’s 1st State Visit to the USA (September 1986)
• Member of the 1st Philippine Panel, Westinghouse, Bataan Nuclear Plant (September 1986)
• Adviser, Philippine Delegation to the ASEAN Ministers Conference, Waldorf Hotel, New York (October 1986)
• Senior Member, Philippine Presidential Blue Ribbon Commission
• Consultant and Adviser, Philippine Centennial Commission
• Chairman, Graciano Lopez-Jaena National Centennial Committee
• Co-Chairman, Ombudsman-Senate
• Lead Prosecutor, Impeachment Article No. III, Impeachment of Former President Joseph Estrada
• Chairman, House Panel, Joint Committee to Canvass Presidential and Vice Presidential Election Results (2004 elections)

Affiliation with Local Organizations

• President, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Manila IV, (1979-1981)
• Governor and Ex-officio Vice-President, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) for Greater Manila (1979-1981)
• President, National Bar Association of the Philippines (since 1981 to the present)
• Chairman, Citizens Legal Aid Society of the Philippines
• President, All Asia Bar Association-Philippine Branch, with HQ in Kochi City, Japan
• Chairman, Philippine Committee of NETWORK, Lawyers Committee on Human Rights based in New York
• Past President, Manila Maharnilad Lions Club
• Comptroller, Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Philippines
• Chairman, Chapter Presidents’ Congress, IBP
• Past Vice President, UST Law Alumni Foundation, Inc.
• Past president, Valle Verde VI Homeowners Association

A Lawyer of International Stature

• Vice President, Liberty International, HQ in Dacca, Bangladesh
• Vice President, Afro-Asian Bar Association, HQ in New Delhi, India
• Governor, Asian Legal Research Institute, HQ in Kochi City, Japan
• Governor, World Movement for Independence of Justice, HQ in Montreal, Canada
• Fellow Asian Center for Research & International Center for Asian Studies, HQ in Hong Kong
• Fellow Scandinavian Institute for Asian Studies, University of Copenhagen, Denmark (1984)
• Member, Centre for Independence of Judges & Lawyers – Geneva, Switzerland

Awards and Recognitions

• “Most Outstanding Thomasian Award in the field of Human Rights” “Distinguished Leadership Alumnus Award”
• “College Editors’ Guild”
• “Special Leadership Award”
• “Philippine Trial Lawyers Association”
• “Distinguished Leadership Award”
• “Most Outstanding Human Rights Trial Lawyer Award”
• “Outstanding Legal and Political Personality Award”
• “Certificate of Merit”, various media groups
• “Certificate of Merit and Recognition”, Armed Forces of the Philippines
• “One of the 22 Most Outstanding Alumnus of the University of San Agustin”
• “Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Law, UST”
• Guest of Honor, closing observance of Philippine Independence Day celebrations, Brussels, Belgium (June 30, 1996)
• Delegate, World Scouts Parliamentary Union, Manila Hotel (Aug. 17-21, 1997)
• Delegate, The Asian Regional Forum on Economic Revitalization (May 30-31, 1997)
• The Congressman with 100% attendance throughout the 10th & 11th Congress
• Outstanding Congressman, Legislator of the Year and Public Servant of the New Millennium
• Outstanding Congressman, League of Press Association of the Philippines