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PNoy names Ateneo classmate new chief legal counsel


President Benigno Aquino III has named his classmate, lawyer Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, as chief presidential legal counsel, a Palace spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
 
In a text message to reporters, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said: “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Atty. Alfredo Benjamin Sabater Caguioa as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel,” the message said simply.  
Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa Photo from Caguioa & Gatmaytan website.
Earlier, reports have already identified Caguiao as the top runner for the post. 
 
A senior partner at the Caguioa & Gatmaytan law firm, Caguioa was also Aquino’s classmate in Ateneo, and the President has known known him from grade school to college. 
 
Both Aquino and Caguioa took up economics, and while Aquino pursued public service, Caguioa went on to take up law. A board top notcher, Caguioa passed the Bar in 1986.
 
Prior to the appointment, a lawyer wrote the President to disuade him from appointing a close associate and a practicing lawyer to avoid conflict of interest.
 
Lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. earlier said that since Caguioa’s law firm, Caguioa and Gatmaytan, had served as the legal counsel of three mining companies, Aquino’s classmate might not be “impartial” in handling the government’s position on mining matters.
 
Even before his official appointment, Lacierda had defended Caguioa, saying a practicing lawyer is the best choice for chief legal counsel.
 
“Kung hindi practicing lawyer, sinong magka-counsel kay Presidente? I mean, that’s the first [criterion] especially if the expertise required is his legal [background.] If you’re concerned about his ties to the mining sector, hindi naman ‘yung [legal counsel] ang gagawa ng policy tungkol sa mining, ‘di ba? So alam naman natin kung sino ang gumagawa ng policy,” Lacierda said in a briefing Tuesday. — Patricia Denise Chiu/RSJ, GMA News
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