Jorge R. Coquia

Biography

JORGE R. COQUIA, a native of Dagupan City, obtained his LL.B. degree in the University of the Philippines and LL.M. and S.J.D. degrees in the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. where he specialized in International Law Jurisprudence and Legal Philosophy. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on CHURCH AND STATE LAWS. He was an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals after which he became an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs where he served as Legal Adviser. He had previously served as Solicitor in the Office of the Solicitor General and District Judge of the Court of First Instance of Mindoro, Laguna and Manila. He undertook special studies in the Hague Academy of International Law and was a participant of the Center for Research and Studies of that Academy. Justice Coquia was the President of the Philippine Society of International Law and a member of the American Society of International Law and the International Law Association. He was a member of the Philippine delegation of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and Chairman of the delegation to the Preparatory Commission for the International Sea-Bed Authority and the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea. He is at present Commissioner of the Commission of Human Rights and a professorial lecturer in several law schools. Among his various publications are the following books: Legal Status of the Church in the Philippines (Catholic University of American Press 1950); Philippine Presidential Election of 1953 (University Publishing, 1954); Principles of Roman Law (Central Lawbook Publishing, 1952-1987); Church and State Law and Relations (Rex Publishing, 1974 and 1988 editions); Public International Law (UP Law Center, 1984 and 1992) He is married to Librada Limjoco with whom he has five children.