Rene Cayetano


Renato Luna Cayetano, popularly known as Compañero, was a Filipino lawyer, television presenter, journalist, politician, and former senator. He was the father of Senator Pia Cayetano, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, and Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano.

Early life

Cayetano was born Renato Luna Cayetano on December 12, 1934 in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Philippines. He was the eldest son of mechanic Pedro Santiago Cayetano of Marilao, Bulacan and public school teacher Julianna Cabrera of Pateros.
He graduated from Pateros Elementary School and Rizal High School. He earned his bachelor's degree at the University of the Philippines, Diliman and three graduate degrees - Master of Public Administration, Master of Laws, and Doctor of Laws at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Lawyer

Rene Cayetano was a founding partner of the Cayetano, Sebastian, Dado and Cruz Law Office, chairman of the House of Delegates and governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and, with Juan Ponce Enrile, co-founder of the Pecabar Law Offices.
Cayetano was active in private law practice, handling many sensational cases pro bono. He acted as private prosecutor in the Pepsi Paloma rape case, Manila Filmfest Scandal on behalf of Mayor Alfredo Lim, co-defense counsel for Luis Beltran in the libel case filed against him by former President Corazon Aquino. Most famous of these cases was the Vizconde case where all the accused were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
To reach a wider audience, he hosted "Compañero y Compañera", a popular public service program that offers free legal advice to television viewers and radio listeners.

Public service

In 1998, former President Fidel V. Ramos conferred on Cayetano the Legion of Honor; and the Philippine Jaycees chose him as TOYM finalist in the field of law. Earlier, the Order of the Purple Feather of the UP College of Law adopted him as member and the Philippine Jaycees named him as outstanding Jaycees president. The University of Michigan and Princeton University in United States gave him various grants. He also received a doctorate in humanities, honoris causa, by Misamis University in 1997.
After his 1984 election as an assemblyman to the Batasan Pambansa, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Administrator of the Export Processing Zone Authority.
In 1995, he was appointed chief presidential counsel by Former President Ramos. In recognition of his efforts in crime prevention and improvement of the criminal justice system, he was named Vice Chairman of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission.

Legislator

In May 1998, Cayetano was elected senator, garnering the second highest number of votes. The freshman senator became the Chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs. He is also the Minority Leader of the Commission on Appointments and was a member of the Judicial Bar Council and BIR Oversight Committee. Before the 11th Congress adjourned February 9, he became the Senate Minority Leader Floor Leader, making him an ex-officio member of all Senate committees.
In his first term as a lawmaker, Senator Cayetano has filed a number of Senate bills and resolutions aimed at speeding up the dispensation of justice for criminal cases and in curbing graft and corruption. Through his efforts, the Supreme Court issued Administrative Order 51-96 designating special criminal courts in Metro Manila and other cities to hear cases involving heinous crimes and finish the trial within 60 days. A strong exponent of the rights of the consuming public, he filed Resolution No. 579 and fought for the ban on collection of parking fees by shopping malls. The Senate Committee on Commerce and Industry jointly with the Justice and Human Rights Committee found the collection of parking fees, and the provisions of the waiver of liability, stated in parking tickets are illegal.
He authored and co-authored landmark pieces of legislation during the 11th Congress which includes RA 8972 –"An Act to Facilitate the Acquisition of Right-of-Way, Site or Location for National Government Infrastructure Projects and for Other Purposes"; RA 8975 – An act to Ensure the Expeditious Implementation and Completion of Government Infrastructure Projects by prohibiting Lower Courts from Issuing a Temporary Restraining Orders, Preliminary Injunctions or Preliminary Mandatory Injunctions", RA 8799 – The Securities Regulation Code; RA 8749 "An Act providing for a Comprehensive Air Pollution Control Policy, and For Other Purposes ; RA 8792 – "An Act Providing for and Electronic Commerce Law and for Other Purposes RA 9139 – "Administrative Naturalization Law of 2000"; RA 9136 – Electronic Power Industry Reform Act of 2201" and RA 9006 – The Fair Elections Act.
He was also responsible for Republic Act 9048 aimed at correcting clerical and typographical errors in an entry in personal legal documents as the city or municipality civil register level.
During the impeachment trial of former President Estrada, he was one of the ten Senator-Judges who voted for the opening of the second envelope, an event that triggered People Power II, which eventually led to the ousting of the former president.
He is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, and the Senate Committee on Energy for the 12th Congress.

Death

Cayetano peacefully died from the complications of abdominal cancer on June 25, 2003, at his home in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City. He is buried in his hometown of Pateros. On 2005, the school "Senator Renato "Companero" Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School" was built in memory of him.

Legacy

A strong adherent of family values, Rene Cayetano was married to Sandra Schramm of Ann Arbor, Michigan, US. They had four children:
*