DOJ undersecretary re-appointed

MANILA, Philippines – Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines national president Jose Vicente Salazar was re-appointed as undersecretary of the Department of Justice by President Aquino last July 7.

He took his oath of office before Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on July 12.

In October 2007, Salazar first assumed office as DOJ undersecretary and has since been at the forefront of various projects geared toward social justice.

For one, he played a key role in the formulation and issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9285 or the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, a law which provides for a more expeditious and less costly means of resolving legal disputes, to the benefit of the most marginalized and underprivileged sector.

Salazar is in charge of the negotiation of foreign trade agreements (FTAs) and bilateral investment treaties (BITs), where he is directly confronted with the economic challenges of globalization, particularly the imperative to attract direct investment and achieve equitable integration with the world economy.

In addition to his work as co-chairman of the Task Force on the Oil Deregulation Law, he was also tasked to advise the Procurement Transparency Group as the government undertook a revolutionary rationalization of the procurement process.

He is also a board member of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. and in this capacity, he ensured the realization of the statutory reform of the electrical power industry.

He is also the head of the Legal Working Group of the Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs and was recently named chairman of the Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking.