SC mourns passing of ex-justice Leonardo Quisumbing

“Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court deeply mourn the passing of retired Associate Justice, Hon. Leonardo A. Quisumbing,” the Supreme Court (SC) said in a statement. (File photo: Supreme Court PIO)

The high court on Monday, January 21, expressed its grief on its former magistrate, retired Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, who joined the Creator on Sunday at the age of 79.

“Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court deeply mourn the passing of retired Associate Justice, Hon. Leonardo A. Quisumbing,” the Supreme Court (SC) said in a statement.

It was in 1998 when Quisumbing was appointed as an associate justice by then President Fidel Ramos. He spent his 11 years serving in the high court before he retired on his 70th birthday in 2009.

According to his profile on the SC’s website, the former magistrate obtained his Bachelor of Laws studies at the University of the Philippines (UP) and then gained his Master of Laws from Cornell University in New York.

Quisumbung had been an achiever ever since he was a student. During his college days, he was a college scholar, president of UP Student Council, editor of the university paper, The Philippine Collegian, president of the Student Councils Association of the Philippines, as well as a member of the National Debating Team to Australia where they bagged the Wilmot Cup.

Adding to his long list of accolades, Quisumbing also landed on the 12th spot in the 1966 Bar Examinations.

For over 21 years, the ex-justice served in several government posts. Before he was appointed to the SC, Quisumbing became the undersecretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino and  Senior Deputy Executive Secretary to Ramos.

Aside from that, he also held the rank of Commodore of the Philippine Coast Guard, 106th Auxiliary Squadron.

Quisumbing, a native of Masbate, Masbate, is married to Dr. Purificacion Quisumbing, who died in 2011. They have two children: Josefa Lourdes and Cecilia Rachel.

The remains of the late justice lie at the San Quentin Chapel, Ground Floor, Loyola Memorial Chapel in Guadalupe, Makati. It can be viewed since Monday evening.