Ronaldo B. Zamora

First elected to the legislature in 1978, he has introduced and advanced the passage of numerous laws of national importance. In the Eight and Ninth Congress, he sponsored such landmark laws as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, the establishment of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the law creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; and the creation of Mandaluyong as a highly urbanized city. He has sponsored bills and resolutions defining impeachment, rendering the highest public officials accountable to the people; encouraging political and electoral reforms; promoting local autonomy; expanding the salary standardization program of school teachers, soldiers and policemen; strengthening the protection given subdivision and condominium buyers; promoting low-cost housing as the primary component of a national shelter program; and providing better health care for residents of his district and Metro Manila.

From 1992 in the Eight Congress to 24 July 1994 in the Ninth, he was Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, when he resigned over policy differences with the ruling party. He later became the Minority Floor Leader of the House, and national spokesperson of the opposition party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition. He was the Executive Secretary of the administration of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Currently, he represents the District of San Juan and is the Minority Floor Leader of the House.

Education: Doctor of Public Administration, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Honoris Causa, 2002; First Place, 1969 Bar Examinations; Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B) University of the Philippines, College of Law Magna Cum Laude, Valedictorian, 1969; and Bachelor of Arts University of the Philippines, College of Arts and Sciences Magna Cum Laude, 1965.

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Napoleon J. Poblador

He is the Managing Partner of the Firm. He obtained his Master of Laws in 1989 at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., and his Bachelor of Laws, Magna Cum Laude (Class Valedictorian) in 1983 at the College of Law, University of the Philippines, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Philippine Collegian in 1982-1983 and, concurrently, the Editor-in-Chief and chairman of the Editorial Board of the Philippine Law Journal. Admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1984, he specializes in civil, commercial and corporate litigation, corporate and securities law, special projects, and business organization and reorganization. He also has extensive experience in public interest law, handling high-profile political and constitutional law cases. He has been chosen by Asia Law Profiles, a Euromoney publication, as a leading litigation lawyer in the Philippines.

Education: Master of Laws (LL.M.) Harvard Law School Cambridge, Massachusetts United States of America, 1989 Written a Thesis entitled, “The Tort of Bad Faith Breach as an Emerging Theory of Lender Liability: Exploring Philippine Analogues of the California and Montana Doctrines,” in partial fulfillment of his Master’s Degree in Law. This article was likewise published in the Philippine Law Journal in 1988 (63 Philippine Law Journal 1); De Witt Fellowship Grantee, University of Michigan Law School, 1988; Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) University of the Philippines, College of Law Magna Cum Laude, Valedictorian, 1983 Editor-in-Chief and Chairman of the Editorial Board, Philippine Law Journal, 1982-1983; Editor-in-Chief, Philippine Collegian, 1982-1983; Vice-Chancellor, Order of the Purple Feather, 1980-1981; Member, Order of the Purple Feather; 1979-1983; and Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology University of the Philippines College of Arts and Sciences Cum Laude, 1978 U.P.-Government Scholar, University of the Philippines, 1974-1978.

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Raul T. Vasquez

Mr. Vasquez is a Senior Partner in charge of Firm’s Labor Department. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Ll. B.) from the University of the Philippines, College of Law Cum Laude, Salutatorian in 1987. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1988.

Among his academic awards/affiliations are the following: Member, Order of the Purple Feather, 1984-1987; Member, Editorial Board, Philippine Law Journal, 1985 and 1986; Member, Philippine Team to the 1986 Philip Jessup Moot Court Competitions in International Law, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.; Member, Executive Board, Association of Law Journal Editors of the Philippines (ALJEP), 1986 and 1987; Alex Reyes Scholarship Grantee, 1984-1987; Seneschal, Order of the Purple Feather, 1984-1985; Founding Chairman, U.P. Students’ Association in International Law, 1987; Written “Nationality of Juridical Persons,” 60 Philippine Law Journal 292 (1985) and “A Proposed Theory of Repudiation of Debts in International Law”, 61 Philippine Law Journal 302 (1986); Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science, University of the Philippines College of Arts and Sciences, Magna Cum Laude, 1983; and Member, Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Science, 1983; Member, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society for Overall Academic Excellence, 1983; Recipient, Certificate of Recognition by the Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society on Social Science, 1983; Awardee, Certificate of Recognition by the Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society for Overall Academic Excellence; State Scholar, 1979-1989.

He also served as consultant for the Joint Congressional Committee on Labor, 2000-2002. He is also active as a legal consultant for the Office of Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo from 1995 up to the present.

Other areas of Specialization: Litigation, Immigration, Agrarian Law, and Special Projects

His law practice centers on litigation, immigration law, labor law and agrarian law.

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Manuel Joseph R. Bretaña III

Mr. Bretaña III is a Senior Partner of the Firm in charge of the Litigation department. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Ll. B.) from the University of the Philippines, College of Law, 1990 and ranked top 15 of Class of 1990. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1991.

Among his academic awards/affiliations are the following; College Scholar, Second Semester, 1988-1989; Awardee, Enrique Q. Fernando, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Grantee, Second Semester, 1988-1989; Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science University of the Philippines College of Arts and Sciences, 1986.

He has served as Corporate Secretary, Kubota Agro-Industrial Machinery Philippines, Inc., 1995-2003; and as counsel for Senator Blas F. Ople in G.R. No. 127685 wherein the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional A.O. No. 308 issued by President Fidel V. Ramos.

He specializes in civil, commercial, criminal and administrative litigation, as well as labor law.

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