Theodore Te Explained

Theodore Te
Office1:Spokesperson of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Appointer1:Maria Lourdes Sereno
Term Start1:2017
Term End1:2019
Predecessor1:Midas Marquez
Successor1:Brian Keith Hosaka
Birth Name:Theodore O. Te
Birth Place:Davao City
Alma Mater:University of the Philippines (AB Psychology), (JD)
Columbia University School of LawMaster of Laws (LL.M.)
Occupation:Professor, human rights attorney

Theodore "Ted" O. Te is a Filipino human rights lawyer, professor, and former Spokesperson of the Supreme Court of the Philippines during the tenure of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.[1] [2] He resigned on the position after Sereno was ousted.[3] [4] [5] [6]

A lawyer of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and also its Regional Coordinator of FLAG Metro Manila,[7] he is notable for serving as counsel for Leo Echegaray who was sentenced to the death penalty, as well as Rappler founder and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Maria Ressa[8] [9] [10] [11]

Early life and education

Te was born in Davao City, Southern Philippines. He graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of the Philippines, where he was involved in the student movement opposing tuition fee increases. In 1990, he received his law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law. As a law student, he was already involved with the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and was vice chairperson of the Philippine Law Journal. He passed the bar examination on the same year.[12]

Legal career

Te began private practice and volunteered for the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG). In 1997, he co-founded the law firm Sanidad, Abaya, Te, Enriquez, & Tan. He served as Vice President for Legal Affairs of the University of the Philippines. He is also an Assistant Professor and former director of the Office of Legal Aid at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

Awards

In 2002, Te received the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines Award for Legal Aid and Human Rights.[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: 2019 . Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te quits . ABS-CBN News.
  2. Web site: INQUIRER.net . 2016-12-07 . SC mouthpiece speaks up on 'judicial massacre' . 2024-01-26 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  3. Web site: Buan . Lian . 2018-09-02 . Spokesman Ted Te resigns from Supreme Court . 2024-01-26 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  4. Web site: Punay . Edu . Supreme Court names new public information office chief . 2024-01-26 . Philstar.com.
  5. Web site: Torres-Tupas . Tetch . 2018-09-03 . CJ De Castro accepts resignation of SC spokesperson . 2024-01-26 . INQUIRER.net . en.
  6. Web site: Galvez . Daphne . Ex-SC spokesman clarifies role in surgeon's conviction . 2024-01-26 . Philstar.com.
  7. News: September 16, 2020 . FLAG lawyer: No place in imperfect justice system for 'absolute' punishments like death penalty . The Philippine Star.
  8. News: July 20, 2019 . Lawyers' group denounces raps against members . June 19, 2020 . ABS-CBN News . en.
  9. Web site: Buan . Lian . 2019-02-26 . Dismiss cyber libel case vs Maria Ressa, Rappler – Te, FLAG .
  10. Web site: Buan . Lian . 2018-09-03 . Spokesman Ted Te resigns from Supreme Court . 2020-06-18 . . en.
  11. Web site: 2020-06-15 . Court convicts Rappler CEO Ressa in cyberlibel case . https://web.archive.org/web/20200618152441/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/6/15/maria-ressa-rappler-conviction.html . dead . June 18, 2020 . 2020-06-18 . . en.
  12. Web site: Yumpu.com . THEODORE O. TE - Faculty of Law . 2024-03-01 . yumpu.com . en.
  13. Web site: News . G. M. A. . 2013-12-16 . JCI Philippines Awards this Year’s Outstanding Young Men and Women . 2024-03-01 . GMA News Online . en.