| Emilio B. Aquino | |
| Office: | Chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission |
| Term Start: | June 7, 2018 |
| President: | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Predecessor: | Teresita Herbosa |
| Birth Name: | Emilio Benito Aquino |
| Birth Date: | 23 July 1964 |
| Birth Place: | Zamboanga |
| Nationality: | Filipino |
| Profession: | Government official |
| Alma Mater: | Universidad de Zamboanga(BS) San Beda University(LL.B) |
Emilio Benito Aquino (born July 23, 1964) is the current chairperson and CEO of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Philippines). He took office on June 7, 2018,[1] and was appointed by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Aquino is also the first CPA-Lawyer to be appointed as SEC Chairperson.[2] Prior to assuming this role, he served as SEC Commissioner after his initial appointment on December 2, 2016.[3]
In 1984, Aquino graduated Magna Cum Laude and Valedictorian with a bachelor's degree in Commerce major in accounting at the Universidad de Zamboanga.[4] After taking the CPA Licensure Exams, he scored a rating of 89.14 percent.[5] He finished his law studies at San Beda University where he was a Dean’s Lister and Silver Medalist. He placed 16th in the 1992 Bar Exams.
Aquino earned his master's degree in Public Management at the Development Academy of the Philippines under a government scholarship. He was also the recipient of a Certificate of Study by the University of Sydney for a course on Effective Governance. Aquino likewise attended and completed the Fintech Advanced Program at the PBC School of Finance, Tsinghua University.[6] He undertook the AIM Management Development Program for SEC and recently attended the Cambridge Fintech and Regulatory Innovation Program.
For over a decade, Aquino was a practicing CPA-Lawyer based in Western Mindanao. When he assumed the role of SEC Chairperson, Aquino ushered the passage of the Revised Corporation Code, considered as a landmark piece of legislation, that was signed into law by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on February 21, 2019.[7]
Currently, Aquino is the Supervising Commissioner for SEC's Enforcement and Investor Protection Department and the Office of the General Counsel. He organized enforcement drives[8] and ushered in the recent sweep against investment scams and predatory lending practices.[9] He is also the SEC's point person on matters related to financial technology, blockchain, and digital assets.[10]
Apart from the SEC, Aquino is also the chairperson of the government-controlled Credit Information Corporation (CIC), the Microfinance NGO Regulatory Council, and the ASEAN Capital Market Forum Corporate Governance Working Group. He is likewise a sitting member of the Anti-Money Laundering Council[11] (AMLC).