Secretary of Justice (Philippines)

The secretary of justice () is the head of the Department of Justice and is a member of the president's Cabinet.

The position is currently held by its Acting Secretary Usec. Fredderick A. Vida since October 10, 2025 following Jesus Crispin Remulla's appointment as Ombudsman.

List of secretaries of justice

Director of Justice (1897) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentSeverino de las AlasApril 24,1897November 1,1897Emilio Aguinaldo

Secretary of Justice (1898–1899) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentGregorio S. Araneta(1869–1930)September 2,1898May 7,1899Emilio Aguinaldo

Attorney General (1899–1901) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officeMilitary GovernorFlorentino Torres(1869–1930)May 29,1899June 4,1901Elwell Stephen OtisArthur MacArthur Jr.

Secretary of Finance and Justice (1901–1917) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officeGovernor-GeneralHenry Clay Ide(1844–1921)September 1,1901June 30,1908William Howard TaftLuke Edward WrightHenry Clay IdeJames Francis SmithGregorio S. Araneta(1869–1930)July 1,1908October 30,1913William Cameron ForbesNewton W. GilbertFrancis Burton HarrisonVictorino Mapa(1855–1927)October 30,1913January 1,1917

Secretary of Justice (1917–1935) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officeGovernor-GeneralVictorino Mapa(1855–1927)January 1,1917June 30,1920Francis Burton HarrisonQuintín Paredes(1884–1973)July 1,1920December 15,1921Charles YeaterLeonard WoodJosé Abad Santos(1886–1942)April 26,1922July 17,1923Luis TorresJuly 18,1923August 31,1928Eugene Allen GilmoreHenry L. StimsonJosé Abad Santos(1886–1942)September 1,1928June 18,1932Eugene Allen GilmoreDwight F. DavisGeorge C. ButteTheodore Roosevelt Jr.Alejandro Reyes(1899–1972)June 19,1932December 31,1932Quirico AbetoJanuary 1,1933July 5,1934Frank MurphyJosé Yulo(1894–1976)July 6,1934November 15,1935

Secretary of Justice (1935–1941) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentJosé Yulo(1894–1976)November 15,1935November 15,1938Manuel L. QuezonJosé Abad Santos(1886–1942)December 5,1938July 16,1941Teófilo Sison(1850–1975)July 18,1941November 27,1941

Commissioner of Justice (1942–1943) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officeChairman of the Philippine Executive CommissionJose P. Laurel(1891–1959)January 26,1942December 4,1942Jorge B. VargasTeófilo Sison(1850–1975)December 4,1942October 14,1943

Minister of Justice (1943–1945) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentQuintín Paredes(1884–1973)October 14,1943December 25,1944Jose P. Laurel

Secretary of Justice, Labor and Welfare (1944–1945) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentMariano ErañaAugust 8,1944February 27,1945Sergio Osmeña

Secretary of Justice (1945–1978) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentDelfín Jaranilla(1883–1980)February 27,1945December 31,1945Sergio OsmeñaRamon QuisumbingJanuary 2,1946May 28,1946Roman Ozaeta(1891–1972)May 29,1946September 17,1948Manuel RoxasElpidio QuirinoSabino PadillaSeptember 19,1948June 30,1949Ricardo NepomucenoJuly 1,1949July 25,1950Jose P. BengzonAugust 29,1950September 23,1951Oscar Castelo(1903–1982)January 1,1952August 16,1953Roberto GianzonAugust 17,1953December 30,1953Pedro Tuason(1884–1961)January 4,1954March 19,1958Ramon MagsaysayCarlos P. GarciaJesus Barrera(1896–1988)April 18,1958June 4,1959Enrique FernandezJune 11,1959July 13,1959Alejo Mabanag(1886–unknown)July 14,1959December 30,1961Jose W. Diokno(1922–1987)January 2,1962May 19,1962Diosdado MacapagalJuan Liwag(1906–1983)May 20,1962July 7,1963Salvador MarinoJuly 9,1963December 30,1965José Yulo(1894–1976)January 1,1966August 4,1967Ferdinand MarcosClaudio Teehankee(1918–1989)August 5,1967December 16,1968Juan Ponce Enrile(1924–2025)December 17,1968February 7,1970Felix Makasiar(1915–1992)February 8,1970August 1,1970Vicente Abad Santos(1916–1993)August 2,1970June 2,1978

Minister of Justice (1978–1987) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentVicente Abad Santos(1916–1993)June 2,1978January 16,1979Ferdinand MarcosCatalino Macaraig Jr.(1927–2003)January 17,1979July 22,1979Ricardo C. Puno(1923–2018)July 23,1979June 30,1984Estelito Mendoza(1930–2025)June 30,1984February 25,1986Neptali Gonzales(1923–2001)February 25,1986February 11,1987Corazon Aquino

Secretary of Justice (from 1987) PortraitName(Birth–Death)Took officeLeft officePresidentNeptali Gonzales(1923–2001)February 11,1987March 8,1987Corazon AquinoSedfrey Ordoñez(1921–2007)March 9,1987January 2,1990Franklin Drilon(born 1945)January 4,1990July 14,1991Silvestre Bello III(born 1944)July 15,1991February 10,1992Eduardo MontenegroActingFebruary 10,1992June 30,1992Franklin Drilon(born 1945)July 1,1992February 2,1995Fidel V. RamosDemetrio DemetriaFebruary 3,1995May 19,1995Teofisto Guingona Jr.(born 1928)May 20,1995January 31,1998Silvestre Bello III(born 1944)ActingFebruary 1,1998June 30,1998Serafin R. Cuevas(1928–2014)July 1,1998February 15,2000Joseph EstradaArtemio TuqueroFebruary 16,2000January 23,2001Gloria Macapagal ArroyoHernando Perez(born 1939)January 24,2001November 26,2002Merceditas Gutierrez(born 1948)November 27,2002January 15,2003Simeon Datumanong(1935–2017)January 16,2003December 23,2003Merceditas Gutierrez(born 1948)December 24,2003August 31,2004Raul M. Gonzalez(1930–2014)September 1,2004September 2,2007Agnes Devanadera(born 1950)ActingSeptember 3,2007November 15,2007Raul M. Gonzalez(1930–2014)November 16,2007June 4,2008June 4,2008January 11,2010Agnes Devanadera(born 1950)ActingJanuary 12,2010March 8,2010Alberto Agra(born 1963)ActingMarch 10,2010June 30,2010Leila de Lima(born 1959)June 30,2010October 12,2015Benigno Aquino IIIAlfredo Benjamin Caguioa(born 1959)InterimOctober 12,2015January 21,2016Emmanuel CaparasInterimJanuary 22,2016June 30,2016Vitaliano Aguirre II(born 1946)June 30,2016April 5,2018Rodrigo DuterteMenardo Guevarra(born 1954)April 5,2018June 30,2022Jesus Crispin Remulla(born 1961)June 30,2022October 9, 2025Bongbong MarcosFredderick Vida(Acting)October 10, 2025Incumbent

Secretary of Justice (Philippines)

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