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First Woman Justice Secretary Named
February 11, 2004
Our acting Secretary of Justice is the first woman to head the Department of Justice.
Secretary Merceditas N. Gutierrez’s track record in government service started in 1976 when she worked as Presidential Staff Officer in Malacanang.
She then joined the National Economic and Development Authority as Senior Legal Officer and stayed there for three years from 1976-1979. The following year she worked as a Legal Consultant for a year at the Office of the Secretary General, Office of the Prime Minister and the Executive House.
A career official, her long journey towards the helm of the Department of Justice began as a State Counsel in 1983. A B.S. Elementary Education graduate of the College of the Holy Spirit, it was her father, Rufino F. Navarro, a lawyer by profession and then Vice Governor of Bataan, who urged her to pursue a Bachelor of Laws degree at the Ateneo De Manila University. Her great admiration and high esteem for her father who held an elective position influenced her to pursue public office.
A native of Samal, Bataan, Secretary Gutierrez’s career is anchored on her basic principles of honesty, competence, and simplicity. A true “people person” that she is, being able to serve the public gives her a sense of fulfillment. “Doing more than what is expected,” is second nature to her.
An advocate of children’s and women’s rights, she chairs the Special Committee for the Protection of Children and the Presidential Human Rights Committee. Her illustrious career achieved through dedication and hard work should serve as an inspiration for people to stay in government service and take part in nation-building.
A recipient of the Woman of Distinction and Dangal ng Samal awards, her main thrust for the DOJ is the fast disposition of cases in line with its mandate of upholding the rule of law and bringing justice closer to the people.
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