Honorable Leila M. de Lima Secretary, Department of Justice

Honorable Leila M. de Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Republic of the Philippines
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Secretary Leila de Lima was born on August 27, 1959 to former
COMELEC Commissioner Vicente B. de Lima and Norma E.
Magistrado. She completed her elementary and secondary
education in La Consolacion Academy (now La Consolacion
College) in Iriga City where she graduated as Class Valedictorian in
1976. She was a Dean’s Medalist in De La Salle University (DLSU)
where she finished her Bachelor of Arts Major in History and
Political Science degree. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree
in San Beda College where she graduated as Class Salutatorian in
1985. She placed Number 8 in the 1985 Bar Examinations.
Secretary de Lima worked as a Professor in the San Beda College
of Law from 1986 to 1994 and from 2006 to 2007. She became a
Confidential Attorney to Supreme Court Associate Justice Isagani A
Cruz from 1986 to 1989 and also served as Secretary in the House
of Representatives Electoral Tribunal from 1993 to 1995. In 1995,
she worked as a Junior Partner in Roco, Buñag, Kapunan and
Migallos Law Office and eventually became a Partner in the
De
Lima Law Firm from 1998 to 2008.
In May 2008, Leila de Lima was appointed as Chairperson of the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR), where she stood as a
steadfast voice denouncing a wide range of human rights violations.
In June 2010, de Lima was named Secretary of the Department of
Justice (DOJ) where she continues to advocate true accountability
to the country and the people.