|
 Jose
Abad Santos was born on February 19, 1886 in San
Fernando, Pampanga. His father was Vicente Abad Santos.
His mother was Toribia Basco. His wife was Amanda
Teopaco. They had five children - Jose, Osmundo, Luz,
Amada and Victoria.
Jose finished his elementary education ini San Fernando
Elementary School. His parents sent him to Santa Clara
College in San Jose, California in 1904 where he
finished high school. He studied law at the University
of Illinois but completed his Bachelor of Laws degree at
Northwestern University on June 4, 1908, He finished his
Master of Laws at George Washington University on June
19,1909.
He worked as a temporary clerk in the Archives Division
of the Executive Bureau when he returned to the
Philippines. Later, he was appointed clerk at the Bureau
of Justice, He also hold the position of a court
interpreter when he passed the bar examinations on
October 12, 1911.
He was chosen assistant-attorney at the Bureau of
Justice on July 13, 1914. He became the special attorney
of the Philippine National Bank on July 16,1918. He was
again appointed assistant attorney at the Bureau of
Justice in 1919. He served as one of the six technical
advisers of the First Parliamentary Independence Mission
to the United States. He retired when he was assistant
attorney and legal counsel of the PNB.
He was appointed Under Secretary of Justice on January
1922. He Was also selected as Secretary of Justice under
Governor-General Leonard Wood. It lasted until June
28,1932. For the third time, he swore as the Secretary
of Justice on December 5, 1938. He stayed as Justice
Secretary until July 16,1941. On December 24 of the same
year, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court. |
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At the outbreak of World War II, he also served as
Acting Secretary of Finance, Agriculture and Commerce in
the Quezon War Cabinet aside from being Secretary of
Justice.
When Manuel Quezon went to Washington D.C. he
temporarily took over as head of the government.
The Japanese seized Abad Santos near Carcar, Cebu. They
asked him to tell Gen. Manuel Roxas to withdraw his
allegiance from the United States. Abad Santos refused.
At two o'clock on May 12, 1942 he met his death from the
hands of the Japanese. |
