Noy names college classmate as new legal counsel

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has named a former grade school and college classmate at Ateneo de Manila University as the new chief presidential legal counsel.

In an email message to reporters, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said: “We are pleased to announce the appointment of attorney Alfredo Benjamin Sabater Caguioa as the chief presidential legal counsel.”

Caguioa took up economics just like Aquino as his pre-law degree.

He was a classmate and close friend of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Henares, and Sen. Teofisto Guingona III.

Lacierda, who obtained his law degree from the Ateneo law school, said Caguioa was four years his senior.

“I know Ben Caguioa personally,” he said.

“He is a very able lawyer. He is four batches ahead of me in Ateneo law school.”

Caguioa is a senior partner of the Caguioa and Gatmaytan law office.

He joined Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaytan in 1986 and was a partner from 1994 until February 2007.

He went on leave for a year in 1987 when he joined his father, retired Court of Appeals Justice Eduardo Caguioa, in practicing law.

He handled mostly appeal cases in the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

He was a law professor at the Ateneo and San Sebastian College.

Caguioa has specialized in litigation and arbitration for the last 25 years.