Edgardo Espiritu Explained

Edgardo Espiritu
Office:	24th Secretary of Finance
Honorific Prefix:	The Honorable
Awards:	The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award
President:	Joseph Estrada
Preceded:	Salvador Enriquez
Succeeded:	Jose Pardo
Term Start:	July 1, 1998
Term End:	December 31, 1999
Alma Mater:	University of the Philippines Diliman

Edgardo Bautista Espiritu is a Filipino lawyer, diplomat, and banker. He served as Secretary of the Department of Finance during the Estrada administration before resigning and testifying against Estrada during the latter's impeachment trials^[1]

He later served as Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland.^[2]

Early life and education

Espiritu received his law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1958. He is a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity.

Career

Banking and finance

Espiritu served as president of Metrobank, the Philippine National Bank, and Westmont Bank.

Secretary of Finance

Espiritu was appointed Secretary of Finance by President Joseph Estrada in 1998. He resigned in 1999 due to corruption in the Estrada administration.^[3]

Espiritu testified during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada. He testified that Estrada held BW Resources stock and was making money from them.^{[4] [5]} He flew to the US after receiving death threats.

Diplomatic career

Espiritu served as Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland.

Legacy

Espiritu was the longest-serving president of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association. During his term, he oversaw the construction of the Ang Bahay ng Alumni building located in the Diliman campus.

In 2019, Espiritu was conferred with the University of the Philippines Alumni Association's Most Distinguished Alumnus award. In 2020, the University of the Philippines conferred him with degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa, cited for his "achievements and unimpeachable character in the areas of banking and finance, economics, public service, and entrepreneurship."

Espiritu was conferred The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award in 2013.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Encarnacion . Andre DP . 2020-11-27 . UP to confer honorary degree on UP Law alumnus and former Finance Sec. Edgardo Espiritu . 2024-03-05 . University of the Philippines . en-US.
2. Web site: Media . U. P. . Office . Public Relations . 2020-12-03 . Amb. Edgardo Espiritu receives honorary UP doctorate, advocates against judicial corruption . 2024-03-05 . University of the Philippines . en-US.
3. Web site: Arquiza . by Rey . Espiritu gets death threats, flees to US . 2024-03-05 . Philstar.com.
4. News: Hookway . James . Estrada Held BW Resources Stock, Former Finance Secretary Testifies . 2024-03-05 . WSJ . en-US.
5. Web site: Dones . Liberty . Espiritu to talk on P15-B GSIS, SSS trust funds . 2024-03-05 . Philstar.com.
6. Web site: 2013-08-06 . Still counting, TOFIL marks its 26th year of recognizing great Filipino achievers . 2024-03-05 . GMA News Online . en.