Ramón Diokno
Ramón Diokno y Marasigan was a Filipino statesman, jurist, Associate Justice, and one of the foremost nationalists of his generation. He fought the American Parity Rights Amendment and was one of four senators to be ousted so that the amendment may be ratified. He later became Associate Justice under Ramon Magsaysay but had the shortest term when he died two months and eleven days later. Diokno is known as the very first Government Corporate Counsel in history from 1935 to December 1941 when the war began. Justice Diokno is famous for writing the ponencia in the Resolution for the In Re: Albino Cunanan, et al.
Early life and education
Diokno was born in Taal, Batangas on March 28, 1886, as the only son to Ananías Diokno, head of the Visayan forces during the Philippine Revolution and Philippine–American War, and Paulina Marasigan. Diokno had four half-siblings from his father's second wife Emilia Rivera. Diokno's ancestor was the governor-general Felix Berenguer de Marquina, the namesake of Marikina City. Diokno received his primary instruction in Taal and continued his studies in a private school in Manila under Felipe Buencamino Sr. and in Colegio de San Antonio de Padua under Supreme Court Justice Ignacio Villamor.Legal career
Diokno was admitted to the practice of law in April 1905. While he was a student, he was the founding president of the Asociacion Escolar de Filipinas. He also founded the Colegio la Ilustracion and Rizal University, where he taught as a professor. He was editor of La Fraternidad and El Nacionalista, and was president of the labor union, Union del Trabajo de Filipinas and the Union de Marinus de Filipinas. He was a Mason at the Sinkuan Lodge and in charge of the Nilad Lodge, which he led for two years. He then influenced his son José Wright "Ka Pepe" Diokno to join the Nilad Lodge No. 12. He was also one of the founders of the Gram Logia Regional de Filipinas.He was also corporate counsel for the Philippine National Bank, Manila Railroad Company, Manila Hotel Company, National Loan and Investment Board, Metropolitan Water District, National Development Company, Cebu Portland Cement Company, and National Produce Exchange. Diokno was encouraged to run in 1946 for the senate seat and won a three year term to serve until 1949. However, much of his votes were then disenfranchised due to provinces undergoing violence from the HUKBALAHAP throughout the year. Diokno thus filed a lawsuit together with other candidates such as Jose O. Vera against the government and was represented by his son, the young topnotcher José in his first landmark Supreme Court case entitled Vera v. Avelino, G.R. No. L-543. The solicitor-general Lorenzo Tañada remarked how astonished he was at the photographic memory of the father and son duo during trial.
Public servant
Diokno won the special election for city councilor in the Northern District of Batangas in 1918 and in 1933. In the September 17, 1935 Commonwealth Election, he was the chief campaign manager of Manuel L. Quezon and was appointed as the inaugural Corporate Counsel in 1935. He became a senator in 1946 which involved a battle in court against the Commission on Elections not counting certain ballots, represented by his son José.Diokno opposed the Hare-Hawes Cutting Act due to the lack of provisions prohibiting American military bases. He was an ally of Manuel Quezon who pushed for the Tydings-McDuffie Act which included the provision.