GPH PANEL

PANEL CHAIRPERSON: Alexander Padilla
Born in Manila on 9 July 1956

Born from a distinguished couple, former Senator Ambrosio Bibby Padilla and Ms. Lourdes De Las Alas Padilla, he is a strong advocate of peace, justice and human rights as manifested by his able leadership in several peace and human rights bodies such as the: Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG-Metro Manila); Institute of Political and Electoral Reforms (IPER); Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID); and the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA). As a lawyer, he is also presently involved with legal work at the Ambrosio B. Padilla Foundation; International Bar Association; Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and the Philippine Bar Association. He was also a chartered member and former President (1995-1996; 1996-1997) of Rotary Club Manila Bay. 

He used to be an Undersecretary for External Affairs and Regulations at the Department of Health. He is currently the Vice Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Phil Health in cognizance of his exemplary work in pushing reforms in the heath sector.  In the last 24 years, he has provided public service in government occupying various positions: Commissioner of Customs; Assistant Secretary for Local Governments (DILG); Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs (DOH); Special Prosecutor (Ombudsman); and as Senior State Prosecutor (DOJ).

He has represented the Philippines since 1982 as a Delegate in numerous international conferences where he participated in multisectoral discussions on human rights, justice peace and health:  International Visitors Program of the US Information Service on Conflict Resolution and Preventive Diplomacy Program; Torture and Human Rights Violations in the Philippines;  Weapons of Mass Destruction Crisis Response Management; and on Movement for Peace and Democracy.

PANEL MEMBERS:

Ednar Gempesaw Dayanghirang
48. married, born in Manay, Davao Oriental on 11 December 1961
 

An IP himself being a member of Mandayan Tribe of Davao Oriental, he is a strong advocate for the welfare and rights of the indigenous peoples. He is the Chairman and Executive Director of the Coalition of Mindanao Indigenous People for Peace Advocacy, Inc. (COMIPPA).  He has likewise served as the Executive Director of the Mindanao Business Council under which he successfully implemented various programs for the enhancement of the business climate in the region, including the conduct of peace dialogues for sustainable responsible investments under the auspices of the Asia Foundation.

A Medical Technologist by profession having obtained a Bachelor of Science’s Degree in Medical Technology from Silliman University.  He took a postgraduate course in Medicine (3rd year) from Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. He is also one of the reputable business entrepreneurs in the region especially in the field of mango production.

Jurgette Honculada
63, married, born in Butuan City on 22 February 1947

She is a women and labor rights advocate. She serves as General Secretary of the National Federation of Labor (Phils), a network of local community organizations of workers excluded from collective bargaining protection. She was the former Chairperson of the Women’s Action Network for Development. At the height of the movement for gender equality in the country, she became the Vice Chairperson of PILIPINA, a national feminist organization. She was likewise a two-termer Commissioner of the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women (1986-1992 & 2000-2004) where she championed the active participation of Filipino women in governance. During the Ramos Administration, she represented the women sector in the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

Holds a Bachelor’s Degree on Journalism from Silliman University (Summa Cum Laude) and completed her post-graduate program for Development Managers at the Asian Institute of Management.  As a writer, she has published noted books on women, such as “Gender Mainstreaming in the Philippine Bureaucracy” in 2002, under the auspices of the UN Funds for Women.

Efren C. Moncupa

60, married, born in Dinalupihan, Bataan on 14 January 1951

He is an active law practitioner in the Philippines, handling mostly ligitation / trial work involving civil, criminal, corporate and administrative cases as an associate lawyer then as partner in law offices with comprehensive law practice. 

Moncupa was an active part of the resistance movement during the Martial Law Period. He was a member of the Free Legal Assistance Group and served as Chairperson of the Metro Manila Chapter from 1992-1995.  He had served as Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel of the Cooperative Foundation Philippines Incorporated from 198-1999 and a Legal Counsel of the Philippine Rural Construction Movement from 1986-2000 among other various groups he had established, led and assisted. He is the lead convenor of Go Organic! Philippines, a group of NGOs, farmers organizations, LGUs and sustainable agriculture advocates working together to promote organic farming as a way of life to ensure better health, food security, balanced environment and increased income for Filipinos. 

As a seasoned public servant, he currently holds an Undersecretary position at the Department of Transportation and Communications. He had rendered government service as the Undersecretary for Field Operations of the Department of Agrarian Reform for three years and also served as the chair of the Board of Administrators of the Cooperative Development of the Philippines in 2003.

He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University College of Law in 1975 and passed the Bar in 1976. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree on AB -Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas.  

Maria Lourdes Tison
51, single, born in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental on 20 November 1958

She was the private sector representative to the Government Panel in 2001 that reviewed the peace agreement with the RPMP-RPA-ABB and determined the manner for its effective implementation. She is presently an active member of Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet- Negros, an aggrupation of local peace workers which was organized in 1990 as a response to the call of the CBCP for the community members to bind together for peace building in light of the unrest and killings in Negros (Oplan “Thunderbolt”). The organization is engaged in the conduct of educational and advocacy programs for territorial communities in Negros Island. Its peace research and interventions are also directed to help address poverty and grave environmental degradation in the area, including government activities perceived to be development aggression.

A dedicated peace advocate, she sits as a private sector representative to the Program Board of the UNDP’s portfolio program in Peace and Development for the country. She was likewise involved in the development of the “human security index” for the Philippines under the UNDP’s Third World Studies Center, designed to mainstream conflict prevention, peace-building and human security in the development process.

She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippines (1994). She also earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology-Anthropology in 1980 from Ateneo de Manila University.