Antonio Carpio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio Carpio
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| 31st Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines | |
| In office November 6, 2009 – October 26, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Leonardo Quisumbing |
| Succeeded by | Estela Perlas-Bernabe |
| 148th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines | |
| In office October 26, 2001 – October 26, 2019 |
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| Appointed by | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo |
| Preceded by | Minerva Gonzaga Reyes |
| Succeeded by | Edgardo Delos Santos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 26, 1949 Davao City, Philippines |
| Relations | Conchita Carpio-Morales (cousin) Mans Carpio (nephew) Diosdado Daño Tirol (nephew) |
| Education | Ateneo de Manila University (BA) University of the Philippines Diliman (LLB) |
Antonio Tirol Carpio (born October 26, 1949) is a former associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on October 26, 2001. He served for eighteen years until his retirement on October 26, 2019. He also served as chief justice several times in an acting role during his time as Senior Associate Justice.
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Early Life and Education
Antonio Carpio was born in Davao City. He completed his elementary and high school education at the Ateneo de Davao University. He later married Bach Yen "Ruth" Nguyen Carpio.
He studied Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University, graduating in 1970. He then earned his law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1975. He was the top student in his law class and graduated with honors. He also held important roles in student publications, serving as Chairman of the editorial board for the Philippine Law Journal and editor-in-chief of The Guidon. He also managed the Philippine Collegian. In the 1975 Philippine Bar Examination, he ranked sixth.
Career in Law and Government
After finishing law school, Antonio Carpio worked as a private lawyer. In 1980, he helped start a law firm called 'The Firm'. This firm grew to become very successful. He also taught law at the University of the Philippines College of Law from 1983 to 1992. From 1993 to 1998, he was a member of the Board of Regents for the University of the Philippines.
In 1992, he joined the government of President Fidel Ramos. He served as the chief legal advisor to the President. In this role, he helped make big changes in industries like telecommunications, shipping, and insurance. After President Ramos's term, Carpio went back to private law practice. He also wrote a regular opinion column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.
Antonio Carpio was the first person appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 2001. At 52 years old, he was one of the youngest justices to be appointed to the Supreme Court.
Awards and Recognition
Antonio Carpio has received many awards for his excellent service. In 1998, President Fidel Ramos gave him the Presidential Medal of Merit. He also received the Outstanding Achievement in Law Award from the Ateneo de Manila Alumni Association. The Ateneo de Davao University gave him an honorary Doctorate of Laws. The University of the Philippines Alumni Association recognized him as an Outstanding U.P. Alumni in Public International Law in 2015 and the Most Distinguished Alumni in 2017.
Role as Acting Chief Justice
As the most senior associate justice, Antonio Carpio often took on the role of acting chief justice. He did this when the chief justice position was empty. For example, he became acting chief justice on May 29, 2012, after the previous chief justice left office. He served in this temporary role for eight months, which is longer than many other senior associate justices who served as acting chief justice.
He also became acting chief justice again on March 1, 2018, when Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno took a leave of absence. During his time on the Supreme Court, Justice Carpio also led the court's Second Division and the Senate Electoral Tribunal. He also headed the Supreme Court's Committee that worked on updating the Rules of Court.
Antonio Carpio served on the Supreme Court for 18 years. He chose not to have a big retirement ceremony at the Court. Instead, he had a private dinner for some guests.
Declining the Chief Justice Post
Antonio Carpio was considered for the position of Chief Justice several times but chose not to accept it.
- In 2010, he declined the post, saying he didn't want to be known as "Mr. Midnight Chief Justice."
- In 2012, after the previous chief justice left office, he was again considered. However, President Benigno Aquino III appointed another justice instead.
- In 2018, after Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was removed, he was nominated again. He had written a legal opinion that the Court could not remove its own members.
- Later in 2018, after Chief Justice Teresita de Castro retired, he accepted his nomination. However, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed a different justice.
- Finally, just before his own retirement, he was offered the position for a very short time (a day or two). He refused, saying he didn't want to be called "Mr. One-Day Chief Justice."
Advocating for the West Philippine Sea
One of Antonio Carpio's most important personal causes is protecting the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea. This area is part of the South China Sea that the Philippines claims.
He believes it's important for people from all countries involved to understand the issue. He hopes this understanding can lead to a fair and lasting solution. He emphasizes that the solution should be based on international law, like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and on true historical facts.
Carpio has given many speeches about this issue. He has called certain actions in the South China Sea a "grand theft of the global commons." He believes that when the Philippines fights for its rights, it is also fighting for all countries that are affected by the situation in the South China Sea.
In 2015, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs supported Carpio on a world tour. He gave lectures about the South China Sea dispute to groups and universities in 30 cities across 17 countries. He explained the Philippines' historical and legal reasons for its claims.
In May 2017, Carpio published an eBook titled "The South China Sea Dispute: Philippine Sovereign Rights and Jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea". This book contains over 140 of his lectures and speeches. Its goal is to explain the dispute in simple language and to convince people that certain claims by other countries have no legal or historical basis.
See Also
- List of Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
- Chief Justice of the Philippines
- Supreme Court of the Philippines
Images for kids
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Justice Antonio Carpio in 2018.
