Perfecto Yasay Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Perfecto Yasay Jr.
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| Secretary of Foreign Affairs Interim |
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| In office June 30, 2016 – March 8, 2017 |
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| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Jose Rene Almendras (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Enrique Manalo (Acting) |
| Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission | |
| In office 1995–2000 |
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| President | Fidel Ramos Joseph Estrada |
| Preceded by | Manuel G. Abello |
| Succeeded by | Lilia R. Bautista |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Perfecto Rivas Yasay Jr.
January 27, 1947 Kidapawan, Cotabato, Philippines |
| Died | June 12, 2020 (aged 73) San Juan, Philippines |
| Political party | Bangon Pilipinas (2009–2020) |
| Other political affiliations |
Aksyon Demokratiko (until 2009) |
| Spouse | Cecile Joaquin |
| Alma mater | Central Philippine University (BA) University of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B) |
Perfecto Rivas Yasay Jr. (January 27, 1947 – June 12, 2020) was an important government official in the Philippines. He served as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs under President Rodrigo Duterte. This role meant he was in charge of how the Philippines dealt with other countries.
He held this position from June 2016 until March 2017. His appointment was not made permanent because there were questions about his citizenship. Before this, he was also the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He also ran for Vice President in the 2010 Philippine elections.
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Early Life and Education
Perfecto Yasay Jr. was born on January 27, 1947, in Kidapawan, North Cotabato. His father, Perfecto Yasay Sr., was a pastor, and his mother, Deborah Rivas, was a teacher.
He finished high school at Davao City High School in 1963. He then studied political science at Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, graduating in 1967. Later, he earned his law degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Career in Public Service
Legal Work and SEC Role
Yasay became a lawyer in New York and was also able to practice law before the United States Supreme Court. In New York, he worked at different law firms from 1979 to 1990. He also managed a Philippine news organization.
In 1993, he started working for the SEC in the Philippines. The SEC is a government agency that oversees businesses and investments. He became the chairman of the SEC in 1995 and served until 2000.
Role in a Presidential Trial
While he was SEC chairman, Yasay was involved in a trial against President Joseph Estrada. He provided information during this trial, which was about corruption charges. This event led to President Estrada leaving office in 2001. Years later, in 2010, Yasay apologized to Estrada for causing him distress, but he stood by his statements about the president's actions.
Running for Office
Yasay tried to become a Senator in the 2004 elections, but he did not win.
In 2009, he decided to run for Vice President in the 2010 elections. He was the running mate of Eddie Villanueva. Yasay believed that elections should not be about money or popularity. He thought that voters should not just pick candidates based on who famous people support. He lost the election to Jejomar Binay.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
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In May 2016, Perfecto Yasay Jr. was asked by President Rodrigo Duterte to join his Cabinet as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. This role involves managing the Philippines' relationships with other countries.
During his time in office, Yasay supported President Duterte's idea of an "independent foreign policy." This meant that the Philippines would make its own decisions about international relations, without being too influenced by other countries like the United States. Yasay believed that the United States had sometimes used its power to benefit itself, rather than the Philippines.
His time as Secretary of Foreign Affairs ended in March 2017. His appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments. This happened because there were questions about whether he was a Philippine citizen, as he had also been a citizen of the United States.
Other Leadership Roles
Perfecto Yasay Jr. also served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for two universities: Philippine Christian University and Central Philippine University.
Death
Perfecto Yasay Jr. passed away on June 12, 2020, in San Juan, Metro Manila. His wife stated that he died due to complications from pneumonia. She clarified that his pneumonia was caused by a return of cancer, and not by COVID-19.
Personal Life
Perfecto Yasay Jr. was married to Cecile Joaquin. They had three children. There was some discussion about his citizenship status because he had been an American citizen until 2016. It was debated whether he had fully completed the process to regain his Philippine citizenship.
See also
In Spanish: Perfecto Yásay Jr. para niños
- List of foreign ministers in 2017
