Raul Daza

Raul A. Daza (born May 2, 1935) is the former Representative of the 1st District of Northern Samar (1987–1998; 2010–2013 and 2016–2019). He was a three-term governor of the same province from 2001 to 2010. He was the Representative of the Lone District of Northern Samar from 1969 until the declaration of martial law in 1972.

Early life and career[]

Daza was born in Manila. He graduated cum laude from the University of the East with a degree in Business Administration. He also graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1951.^[2]

Congressman Daza placed 11th in the 1958 bar examinations and is a lifetime member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. He was a member of the State Bar of California, USA and was the first Filipino to pass both the California Attorney and Certified Public Accountant examinations without formal education in that country.

He is a sustaining life member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and a former member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants in the United States of America.

Political career[]

Representative (1969–1972)[]

In 1969 Daza was elected congressman representing the Lone District of Northern Samar for one term until the declaration of Martial Law.

Exile and return (1972–1987)[]

After the House of Representatives was abolished by President Ferdinand Marcos, Daza and his family went to the United States until 1985 when he returned from exile.^[3] In 1986, he was appointed by Corazon Aquino as Deputy Minister of the Presidential Commission on Good Government until 1987 when he announced his candidacy as Representative of First District of Northern Samar.

Return to the House of Representatives (1987–1992)[]

After the restoration of the House of Representatives but in a new location at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, he ran for the First District of Northern Samar.

Speaker Pro Tempore to Deputy Speaker (1992–1998)[]

During the opening of the 9th Congress, he was eventually elected as Speaker Pro Tempore succeeding Antonio Cuenco. By 1995, he became Deputy Speaker for Visayas until 1998. He also became the President of Liberal Party in 1994 succeeding Wigberto Tanada. He held that position until 1999.

Governor of Northern Samar (1998–2010)[]

After his tenure as congressman, he was appointed Commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Constitutional Reforms from 1999 to 2000. In 2001, he won as governor of Northern Samar. He was re-elected in 2004 and 2007.

Congressman again (2010–2019)[]

He was elected congressman again in 2010 and regained his seat from his son Paul after he swapped places with the latter. In 2013, he lost his congressional seat to Harlin Abayon. In 2016, he regained the seat from Abayon after the latter was disqualified by the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal. This was reversed by the Supreme Court, but speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. did not heed the court's decision and paved way for Daza's return. During his return as congressman, he was part of the minority at age 82 after President Rodrigo Duterte's party PDP–Laban gained a supermajority in the House of Representatives.

Personal life[]

Daza is married to Teresita Ruiz and they have four children.

References[]