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SC: Former Chief Justice Narvasa dies at 84
(Updated 12:10 p.m.) Former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa passed away Thursday morning at age 84, the Supreme Court said.
Former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa. Photo from Senate Electoral Tribunal website
"With deep regret, the SC announces the passing of the Hon. Andres R. Narvasa, the 19th Chief Justice, at 6:05 this morning. He was 84," it said.
Narvasa served as Chief Justice from 1991 to 1998, and as defense counsel of then President Joseph Estrada in his impeachment trial.
A description of Narvasa at the Fortun Narvasa Salazar law office website said Narvasa was born in 1928 and was admitted to the Bar in 1951.
He earned a magna cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, and honoris causa from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and UST, and Angeles University Foundation.
Narvasa's practice areas included Arbitration, Constitutional Law, and Conflict of Law, according to the site.
The high court said Narvasa served as Chief Justice from Dec. 8, 1991 to Nov. 30, 1998.
He was also a former dean of the University of Santo Tomas' Faculty of Civil Law.
Before joining the high court, he was the general counsel of the Agrava fact-finding board that investigated the assassination of former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., father of incumbent President Benigno Aquino III.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. sympathized with the death of Narvasa.
"Nagbibigay pugay tayo sa kanyang matapat na paglilingkod sa bayan bilang mahistrado, manananggol. Hinangaan ng buong bayan ang mahusay niyang pangangasiwa sa prosekusyon laban sa mga isinakdal hinggil sa assassination ni dating Senador Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. bilang general counsel ng Agrava fact-finding board na binuo upang siyasatin ang pagpaslang sa dating senador," Coloma said.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia
Narvasa's son Gregorio "Ogie" Narvasa II said his father died at 5:30 a.m., hours after being brought to the hospital.
"May infection, pneumonia ... Hindi naman nahirapan," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Narvasa administered the Oath of Office of Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada, according to an article on the Senate Electoral Tribunal website.
After his retirement in 1998, he was appointed by Estrada to serve as chairman of the Preparatory Commission for Constitutional Reform, "an independent commission formed to study the basic charter and suggest potentially positive modifications." He served from 1999 to 2000.
Meanwhile, according to a report on the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism website, Narvasa was "immensely popular with the press, which christened him the "Gray Dean," because of his salt-and-pepper crewcut."
However, the former chief justice was also criticized for being too sociable – partying, playing golf with lawyers and judges, and dining with controversial personalities, the PCIJ report said.
“Critics blame Narvasa, saying he has failed to lead and to set the example… The chief has powers to crack the whip, but seems reluctant to use that power,” it added.
The Narvasa Court, the report read, “is that of a tribunal where the prevailing atmosphere is that of chumminess combined with mutual suspicion. It is not the most conducive atmosphere for dispensing justice.”
