Today marks the 101st Birthday Anniversary of one of our country’s most noble statesmen—former Sen. Jovito Reyes Salonga. Salonga was born on June 22, 1920 in Pulo, Pasig, Rizal (now Metro Manila) to a Presbyterian Minister, Esteban Salonga, and Bernardita Reyes, a market vendor. He lived in poverty during childhood and was the youngest of five brothers. He attended public schools for his education, graduating in Pasig Elementary School and Rizal High School at the top of his classes.
He was a working student in college. A product of the UP College of Law, he topped the bar examination in 1944, together with Jose W. Diokno. Both of them obtained a rating of 95.3 percent. Salonga pursued further studies in Harvard University where he earned his Master of Laws degree on a scholarship. He was given a fellowship at Yale University and completed his doctorate in law. He distinguished himself by writing the best paper in international law at Yale. He’s one of a handful of Filipino lawyers who received the best legal education from the top law schools—UP, Harvard and Yale. Salonga was offered a faculty position after graduation in Yale, a distinct honor given only to outstanding products, but he turned it down to return to the Philippines.
Upon his return to Manila, Salonga embarked on the teaching and practice of law. He became a well-published author of numerous law books and was acknowledged as an authority in international and corporate laws. He became a successful practicing lawyer and was sought after by many clients. He also served as the law dean of the Far Eastern University College of Law.
On his first attempt to run for a public office, Salonga overwhelmingly won as the representative of the 2nd District of Rizal, where the Sumulong and Rodriguez families lorded over. He denounced the political dynasties in his province and offered himself as a fresh alternative. As a member of the Liberal Party, he became an effective fiscalizer and an authentic voice of the opposition. He pushed for the proportionate representation in the congressional committees to ensure that the rights of the minority were properly protected. He championed our country’s claim to North Borneo with his cogent legal arguments, which provided the basis for our position. He was named by President Diosdado Macapagal to lead the Philippine delegation that argued our case in London to negotiate our claims against Malaysia. When the LP took control of the House, Salonga became the Chairman of the powerful Committee on Good Government and relentlessly pursued investigations of abuses in the government and graft and corruption. He was elected as the No. 1 senator in 1965 despite the victory of Marcos over Macapagal. He was a pain in the neck of the Marcos administration. His exposes against the excesses of Marcos and his subalterns earned him the moniker as the “Nation’s Fiscalizer” and was recognized as an outstanding legislator. He was reelected with the highest number of votes again in 1971 but the Senate was padlocked when Martial Law was proclaimed in 1972. But the growing militarization did not daunt him. Salonga became one of the staunchest opponents of Martial Law. He served as a lawyer for the so-called enemies of the state and political prisoners who fought the abuses of the government. Eventually, Salonga was arrested and detained without any due process.
After the Edsa Revolution, Salonga headed the Presidential Commission on Good Government and succeeded in recovering the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos and his cronies. He ran for the Senate again in 1987 and emerged No. 1. Salonga had no equal for his outstanding career as a lawyer, a legislator par excellence and unblemished record in public service. His peers elected him as the 14th Senate President where he served from 1987 to 1992. True to his pledge when he accepted the Senate presidency, the Senate was “a sanctuary of freedom…the shrine of light and reason and…a source of inspiration and hope to all people” during his watch. Among the major pieces of legislation he authored are: Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the Anti-Coup d’etat Act, the Act Defining and Penalizing the Crime of Plunder, and many others. As the Senate President, he led his fellow senators to reject the RP-US Bases Treaty, which signaled the end of the US military presence in the country.
In 1992 at the age of 72, Salonga ran for president of our country under the Liberal Party, with Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel of PDP-Laban as his running mate. He only placed 6th in the field of seven presidential hopefuls won by General Fidel V. Ramos. He was outvoted by Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Danding Cojuangco, Ramon Mitra, and even Imelda Marcos. He only edged out Salvador Laurel. He must have been heartbroken by the results. It was strange that the Filipino electorates did not entrust him the presidency after sending him to the Senate three times with the largest votes each time; a feat unequalled in Philippine politics. Disheartened, he left politics for good but he continued with his public service. He founded Kilosbayan to instill morality and ethical conduct in government, and Bantay Katarungan to improve and modernize our system of justice.
Salonga is one of the most honorable men who entered politics. Gifted with a brilliant mind and impeccable integrity, he served his country selflessly and with utmost dedication. He survived the war as a Japanese prisoner, the bombing of Plaza Miranda and the tyranny under Martial Law. But he did not surrender to the enemy nor compromise his principles. He remained true to his ideals until the end. Many died of their conviction but only few survive to live and fight for their ideals until the very end. Salonga died on March 10, 2016 in Quezon City at the age of 95.