Salvador Medialdea

{{Short description|Filipino lawyer and government official (born 1951)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Salvador Medialdea

| image = Salvador Medialdea 2018.jpg

| image_size = 220px

| caption = Medialdea in March 2018

| office = 38th Executive Secretary

| term_start = June 30, 2016

| term_end = June 30, 2022

| president = Rodrigo Duterte

| predecessor = Paquito Ochoa Jr.

| successor = Victor Rodriguez

| office2 = Chairman of the National Quincentennial Committee

| appointer2 = Rodrigo Duterte

| predecessor2 = Position established

| successor2 =

| term_start2 = May 8, 2018

| term_end2 = April 27, 2022

| office3 = Presidential Assistant for Political Affairs

| predecessor3 =

| successor3 =

| term_start3 = July 2000

| term_end3 = November 2000

| president3 = Joseph Estrada

| office4 = President of the National Livelihood Development Corporation

| predecessor4 =

| successor4 =

| term_start4 = October 1998

| term_end4 = June 15, 2000

| president4 = Joseph Estrada

| party = PDP

| birth_name = Salvador Campo Medialdea

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|10|14}}

| birth_place = Manila, Philippines

| nationality =

| occupation = Lawyer

| residence = Makati, Metro Manila

| alma_mater = Colegio de San Juan de Letran (BS)
San Beda College (LL.B.)

| spouse = Maria Bertola Dizon Medialdea

| children = Paolo Angelo Dizon Medialdea

| website =

| footnotes =

| signature = Salvador Medialdea signature.png

}}

Salvador "Bingbong" Campo Medialdea (born October 14, 1951){{cite web|url =http://www.melco-crown-philippines.com/doc/psesec/2012/20120104_Circular_Certification%20on%20qualifications%20of%20independent%20director%200081-2012.pdf | publisher = Melco Crown Philippines | accessdate = June 26, 2016 |title =Certification of Independent Director}} is a Filipino lawyer and former government official. He served as the Executive Secretary from 2016 to 2022 in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. He previously served as Presidential Assistant for Political Affairs and president of the National Livelihood Development Corporation under President Joseph Estrada.

In March 2025, Medialdea served as Duterte's counsel during the latter's arrest and subsequent pre-trial hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC).{{cite court|litigants=Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte|reporter=ICC-01/21-01/25-88|court=ICC|date=2025-03-13|url=https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/CourtRecords/0902ebd180afb2ba.pdf}}

Early life and education

Medialdea is the son of former Supreme Court Associate Justice Leo D. Medialdea who served from 1988 to 1992 under President Corazon Aquino. Born in Manila, Medialdea spent his early years in Davao City, where he was a childhood friend of President Rodrigo Duterte. He attended the Light Bringer School in the city before moving back to Manila to finish high school at Paco Catholic School. He received his BS Commerce Major in Management from Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1972 and his law degree from San Beda College of Law in 1976. He passed the bar exams the following year.{{cite web|url=http://interaksyon.com/article/128534/the-duterte-cabinet--many-are-in-their-60s-70s-digong-pals-and-classmates-ex-govt-execs|title=The Duterte Cabinet|publisher=Interaksyon|date=June 1, 2016|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609055532/http://interaksyon.com/article/128534/the-duterte-cabinet--many-are-in-their-60s-70s-digong-pals-and-classmates-ex-govt-execs|archivedate=June 9, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://thestandard.com.ph/news/-main-stories/top-stories/206275/executive-secretary-is-a-mean-piano-player.html|title=Executive secretary is a mean piano player|publisher=The Standard|author=Herrera, C.|date=May 23, 2016|accessdate=June 26, 2016}}

Career

File:20191006-KNG1.jpg in Moscow in 2019]]

Medialdea began his legal career as a senior associate at ACCRA Law Offices. He then worked as a partner at Pecabar Law Offices, the law firm of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Rene Cayetano, before becoming a managing partner at Medialdea Ata Bello Guevarra Suarez Law Firm (MABGS).

From 1998 to 2000, he served as chairman of the Northern Foods Corporation based in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. He began work in government in 1998 at the Livelihood Corporation (now National Livelihood Development Corporation) upon the invitation of President Joseph Estrada. He became a member of the board of trustees and administrator of the government-owned corporation while also serving as chairman of the Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises. In 2000, he was appointed by Estrada as presidential assistant for political affairs.

At the start of President Rodrigo Duterte's term on June 30, 2016, Medialdea was appointed Executive Secretary.{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/133233-medialdea-executive-secretary-panelo-spokesman |title=Medialdea is executive secretary, Panela is spokesman |work=Rappler|author=Ranada, P. |date=May 16, 2016 |accessdate=June 26, 2016}}

Medialdea still serves as partner at the MABGS law firm, whose clients include President Duterte. He is also director for Manchester International Holdings and Accette Insurance. He also served briefly as bar examiner for the Supreme Court in 2006.

On May 8, 2018, President Duterte created the National Quincentennial Committee for the 500th anniversary commemoration of the arrival of the Magellan-Elcano expedition in the Philippine islands, appointing Medialdea as chairman of the committee. They held their inaugural meeting on June 29, 2018, in Baler, Aurora.{{cite news|title=National Quincentennial Committee to launch commemorative activities|url=https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/releases/1016337|accessdate=July 13, 2019|agency=PIA-NCR|work=Philippine Information Agency|date=December 19, 2018|location=Quezon City}}

File:Duterte and Medialdea flying to The Hague in 2025.jpg for Duterte's trial.]]

A close ally of Duterte, Medialdea was among the few people who accompanied the former president when he was arrested by police authorities in March 2025 based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusing Duterte of crimes against humanity. On March 14, 2025, he acted as Duterte's lawyer at the first appearance in front of the Pre-Trial Chamber.{{cite news|last=Domingo|first=Katrina|title=Duterte questions ICC warrant of arrest, demands answers for 'deprivation of liberty'|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/11/duterte-questions-icc-warrant-of-arrest-demands-answers-for-deprivation-of-liberty-1239|access-date=March 11, 2025|work=ABS-CBN News|publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation|date=March 11, 2025|location=Manila}} On March 18, Medialdea was hospitalized after visiting Duterte in detention.{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/940175/medialdea-out-of-hospital-in-the-netherlands-bong-go/story/ |title=Medialdea out of hospital in the Netherlands —Bong Go |first=Anna Felicia |last=Bajo |date=March 22, 2025|accessdate=March 22, 2025|website=GMA News}} The next day, it was announced that he would withdraw from Duterte's legal team, citing limited slots.{{cite news|url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/268771/medialdea-to-withdraw-as-dutertes-icc-counsel-vp-sara|title=Medialdea to withdraw as Duterte’s ICC counsel, says VP Sara|first=Jason|last=Sigales|date=March 19, 2025|accessdate=March 19, 2025|website=INQUIRER.net}}

Personal life

Medialdea is married to Maria Bertola "Betty" Dizon, a lawyer and head of an insurance company, with whom he has one son. His family has roots in Davao City, Aklan, and Ilocos Region. Outside of work, he enjoys playing piano and classical music. He was one of the producers of Miss Saigon in Manila in 2000 and formally closed the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.