Philippines Ex-SC Justice Cerafin Cuevas Passed Away

MANILA – Veteran lawyer and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas has passed away, the high court announced Monday. He was 85.

The SC, in its official Twitter account, said Cuevas passed away on Sunday evening.

Former SC Justice Serafin Cuevas passed away last night, February 9, 2014. Details of wake to follow. Flag at SC quadrangle at half mast.

— SC PIO (Official) (@SCPh_PIO) February 10, 2014

Cuevas, a graduate of University of the Philippines College of Law, served as the lead defense counsel in the impeachment trial of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

He also worked as justice secretary under the administration of former President Joseph Estrada. He was an associate justice during the Marcos administration.

Cuevas was the Supreme Court's 106th Associate Justice, serving from June 1, 1984 to April 16, 1986.

Cuevas is a known lawyer of the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) and a former chairman of New Era University, which was established by the INC.