Romeo Callejo Sr.

(Redirected from Romeo J. Callejo, Sr.)

Romeo J. Callejo Sr. (April 28, 1937 – September 19, 2023) was the 152nd associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was appointed to the court on August 26, 2002, by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and served until his mandatory retirement on April 27, 2007.

Romeo J. Callejo Sr.
152nd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
In office
August 26, 2002 – April 27, 2007
Appointed byGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded bySabino R. De Leon Jr.
Succeeded byRuben T. Reyes
Personal details
Born(1937-04-28)April 28, 1937
Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur, Commonwealth of the Philippines
DiedSeptember 19, 2023(2023-09-19) (aged 86)
SpouseMa. Filipinas Villanueva Callejo

Profile

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Born in Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur, Callejo Sr. worked with the government for 37 years, serving the Judiciary as magistrate in three court levels.[1]

After earning his Associate degree and Bachelor of Laws from the San Beda College of Law in 1955 and 1962, respectively, as a Silver Medalist, he passed the 1961 Philippine Bar Examinations.

Callejo joined the law office of Senator Jose W. Diokno. Thereafter, he joined the Montenegro, Madayag, and Hernandez Law Office until 1964-1986. He spent the next 24 years in private practice.

Callejo was appointed a Manila trial court judge in 1986 and was promoted to the court of Appeals in 1994 and became a Member of its Committee on the Revision of the Internal Rules, untiol his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2002.

He attended the Graduate Academy of American and International Law, University of Texas School of Law in 1987. He was a Representative of the Australian-Philippine Training Program, Sydney, Australia in 2000.

An expert in the fields of criminal law and procedural law, Callejo also taught these subjects in various law schools - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Cosmopolitan Review Center, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Arellano University, Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines College of Law Law Center, Far Eastern University, including his alma mater San Beda College from 1987 to 2000.[2]

Possibly one of the most prolific opinion writers in recent Supreme Court history, Callejo retired on April 28, 2007, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Upon his retirement, he received the Justice Jose Abad Santos Award from Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno in the retirement ceremonies held in his honor on the day of his retirement. As his 21 years of service in the judiciary drew to a close midnight on April 28, 2007, he was acclaimed by his colleagues for “his untarnished reputation for honesty and integrity, which lawyers and judges, present and future, should emulate.”

He was a Philippine Judicial Academy Professor, and was its Vice-Chancellor in 2015, and Chairperson of the Department of Criminal Law from 1998 until his death.

October 18, 2020, Callejo Sr. was appointed Judicial Integrity Board's Chairman, with 3-year term.[3][4]

Callejo was a member of the Retired Judges Association of the Philippines.

Personal life

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Callejo Sr. was married to Maraia Filipinas Villanueva. Their children are Michel and Geraldine Geday, and Romeo and Ivy Callejo. Their grandchildren are Jacqueline Callejo-Geday and Amelie Callejo.[5]

Death

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Callejo, Sr. died on September 19, 2023, at the age of 86.[6] His wake was held at Loyola Memorial Chapels funeral home along Commonwealth Avenue from September 20-23.

On September 22, at 4:00 P.M., Alexander Gesmundo, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez led the eulogy in the solemn necrological service. On September 23, the cremation of his mortal remains was followed by inurnment ceremony.[7]

Some notable opinions

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References

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  1. ^ "JIB Chairperson and Retired SC Justice Romeo J. Callejo, Sr., 86". Supreme Court of the Philippines. September 20, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "Associate Justice Romeo, Sr. J. Callejo". May 1, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Lagrimas, Nicolle (October 19, 2020). "Retired justices sworn in as members of court integrity boar". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Patag, Kristine Joy (August 14, 2020). "SC creates two bodies to purge Judiciary from erring officials, personnel". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "JIB Chairperson and Retired SC Justice Romeo J. Callejo, Sr., 86". Supreme Court of the Philippines. September 20, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Galvez, Daphne (September 22, 2023). "JIB chair Callejo passes away". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Requejo, Rey (September 20, 2023). "Retired SC Justice Romeo J. Callejo Sr., 86". Manila Standard. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
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Preceded by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
2002–2007
Succeeded by