Posted by geemiz | Posted in Biographies | Posted on 18-01-2012
Tags: Philippines
Currently Justice Serafin R. Cuevas is the Lead Council of the Defence against the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona. Let us know the lead man defending the Chief Justice.
Personal Profile
Name: Serafin R. Cuevas
Birth Date: June 25, 1928
Birth Place: Bacoor, Cavite
Spouse: Angelica Vecino
Children: Serafin Jr., Maria Leonora, Maria Angelica and Ana Lisa
Educational Background
Elementary: Las Piñas Elementary School
Secondary: University of Manila
Bachelor of Laws: University of the Philippines – Passed bar exam on 1952
Professional Career
- Associate Justice June 01, 1984 – April 16, 1986, appointed by Pres. Marcos
- Associate Justice, intermediate Appellate Court
- Associate Justice, Supreme Court, May 31, 1984
- Lecturer College of Law, University of the Philippines
- Lecturer Institute of Law
- Lecturer Far Eastern University
- City of Manila Assistant Fiscal
- Judge, Court of First Instance
More Things about Justice Serafin Cuevas
- Appointed Chairman of the Supreme Court Committee that drafted the trial court manual
- Member of the U.P. Law Center Committee that drafted the proposed Code of Crime
What People Say About Justice Serafin Cuevas
“You can’t fault the other camp for being good,” – Sen. Vicente “Tito”Sotto III
“We cannot blame the former justice for being a seasoned litigator,” “As a former law student, I am learning a lot from him. It’s very amusing. This is a learning experience.” – Sen. Jose “Jingoy” Estrada
“We observed, Mr. Senate President, that the distinguished lead counsel of the defense has not only been objecting to our questions… but also lecturing us,” – Rep. Niel Tupas Jr.
“Sir, without really meaning to sound patronizing, I must tell you that I’m still learning from you.” – Defense counsel Ramon Esguerra
“He is very sharp, quick and organized with his thoughts,” – Defense counsel Ramon Esguerra
“He may be overdoing it at times, but there is no other way. He has to protect the interest of the client.” – Defense counsel Ramon Esguerra
“Note that when I asked Justice Cuevas about the rules, he would answer immediately. That is the result of constant study.”” – Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile
“he has the stature not to be bamboozled by anyone.” – Defense counsel Ramon Esguerra
photo above is from seattlepi.com
you do a great job
Unbelievable Lawyer!
It’s like a motto..
“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.” – Serafin Cuevas
“Once you pop, you can’t stop…the embarrassment.” – Niel Tupas Jr.
Serafin Cuevas is brilliant.
As a lawyer he knows how to protect his client from harm. However let all lawyers be reminded that the purpose of the law is to condemn the guilty and protect the innocent.
Atty. Cuevas will make it appear even the most heinous killer criminal is unable to swat even a fly because of his being glib mouthed that even a seasoned legal opponent will think that what he is saying is proper though it just came out from nowhere. It is part of his instinct I think even when he is not yet studying as a lawyer.
Justice Cuevas mabuhay pa po sana kayo ng matagal para marami pa kami matutuhan sa inyo. napa kahusay ninyo, mapagkumbaba. alam ko po lagi kayo ginagabayan ng Panginoong Diyos
Impeachment
[ The Simple Act of Accusation ]
It is quite surprising to realise just how many people mistakenly believe that the term
” impeachment ” is an end result; namely .. ” Dismissal from Office “.
On the other hand, considering the process has only taken place a few of times since it’s inception, perhaps the confusion, most particularly evident among ” Non-Native English speakers “, is not too surprising!
So, to explain, let’s start at the beginning …
Since ” Heads of States ” and ” Presidents ” and ” Chief Justices ” are generally the individuals who sign bills into Law and thereby control the Law, they cannot be indicted, far less brought to trial whilst in office – no matter how serious their crime against the State may be.
To get around this stumbling block, the impeachment process, which originated in ” Medieval England “, but has since largely fallen into disuse, is generally applied.
To ” impeach ” simply means to ” accuse “, therefore, the person accused, automatically becomes ” impeached ” from the outset.
The next step is the ” Impeachment Trial ” where the ” evidence against the accused is on trial ” – not the accused himself, since he, of course, is still in Office and cannot, therefore, be tried!
The ” mock ” trial that ensues, is normally conducted by members of the ” Lower House ” in the presence of the ” Upper Chamber ” members whose involvement is principally to determine if the evidence laid before them would ” prosper “, or not, in a ” Criminal Court ” – nothing more; nothing less!
Since the accused is not on trial and under no obligation to defend himself or even attend such a hearing, there can be no pronouncements of ” Guilt ” or ” Innocence “.
If the deliberations of the ” Upper House ” indicate that the evidence will not prosper in court, that is the end of the matter and the accused remains in office
If, on the other hand, the deliberations of the ” Upper House ” show that the evidence could prosper in court, the accused will be invited to resign immediately; after which he can be properly ” indicted ” on criminal charges in the ” Courts of Justice “.
Should he, however, refuse to resign, he can still be indicted by the aggrieved parties for whatever offences he was originally accused of, at the end of his current term,
Like the defense counsel, I too, am a student of English Law in my eighties!
The whole purpose of the Impeachment process is to ensure that the government won’t suffer a complete shutdown, for many months, during which time, no Bills could be signed into Law, whilst such individuals would be attending a Court of law as a result of any possible irresponsible accusations against them!
Hence the need for a special “Court”
My questions for Attorney Serafin Cuevas, therefore, are these …
How, can the Philippine media, seemingly including many legal minds, and the Filipino people believe …
1. That the person impeached is on trial, which he isn’t and that he can be found guilty during the Impeachment trial, which he cannot be, until he is first indicted by a Court of Law?
2. That the simple penalty of dismissal from office would only result in the accussed laughing all the way to his Bank!
everytime i watched the impeachment proceding i admire the brilliant lead defense counsel talking about law. when he speaks, everybody listen. even the prosecutor are stunt with amazement on how he handle the arguements.
how i wish that justice cuevas would be one of the bar reviewers so that he can share his intelligent insight of law.
According to gerontological nursing theories, 84 years old is categorized as old-old. I admire Judge Serafin, he is a good living example to my nursing students that ” constant study & making ones neurons active would prevent an elderly to experience dementia” I am not into law profession but i consistently follow the impeachment trial to CJ Corona like teleserye bec i learn so much from it as a Filipino.
Bravo!
Justice Cuevas , is a brilliant lawyer with brilliant mind, i’am not a lawyer nor law student but in some point i enjoyed his style on how to handle the case. no doubt, aside from sen.Santiago I can say that he is one of the best lawyer that we had.
He’s 93 but still very brilliant! OMG!
he’s 83 and in june he’ll be turning 84….not 93…pls do your math correctly rey…
“We observed, Mr. Senate President, that the distinguished lead counsel of the defense has not only been objecting to our questions… but also lecturing us,” – Rep. Niel Tupas Jr.
…………… “I’ll stop lecturing Your Honor if the lead prosecutor stops acting like a law student”
—Justice Serafin Cuevas Sr.
ang galing galing ni serafin quevas mapa tagalog oh english grabe talagang bihasang bihasa.. saludo kami sa iyo..
s. Cuevas is very good example of super duper lawyer. More power to cuevas
I really salute to you atty. cuevas…. you are really intelligent . . . you’re 83 yet, you are still so smart.. i am not a law student but i admire the way you defend your client… I learned a lot from you . . that’s true… keep it up sir…
GOD BLESS