Haydee Yorac

In thisPhilippine name,themiddle nameor maternalfamily nameisBofilland the surname or paternal family name isYorac.

The Honorable Haydee B. Yorac
Chairperson of the Commission on Elections
Acting
In office January 12, 1990 – June 5, 1991
Appointed by	Corazon Aquino
Preceded by	Hilario Davide Jr.
Succeeded by	Christian Monsod
Commissioner on Elections
In office July 15, 1986 – February 11, 1993
Chairperson of the Presidential Commissioner on Good Government
In office July 17, 2001 – September 12, 2005
Preceded by	Jorge V. Sarmiento
Succeeded by	Camilo Sabio
Personal details
Born	(1941-03-04)March 4, 1941 Saravia,Negros Occidental,Commonwealth of the Philippines
Died	September 12, 2005(2005-09-12)(aged 64) Chicago,Illinois,U.S.
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Diliman(LL.B.) Yale University(LL.M.)

Haydee Bofill Yorac(/ˈhaɪdi/;Spanish pronunciation:[ajˈde.e]March 4, 1941 — September 12, 2005) was aFilipinapublic servant,law professorandpolitician.

Early life

Yorac was born on March 4, 1941, in the municipality of Saravia (nowE. B. Magalona),Negros Occidentalto Jose Yorac and Josefa Bofill.She earned aBachelor of Lawsfrom theUniversity of the Philippines Dilimanin 1962. She placed 8th in the 1962 Philippine Bar Examinations, with an 86.95% rating.She was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather (Law Honor Society) while a student of law. She also earned aMaster of Lawsmajor inpublic international law,minor inanthropologyfromYale UniversityinNew Haven, Connecticut,in 1981.

Martial law

See also:Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos

WhenFerdinand Marcosplaced the Philippines undermartial lawon September 23, 1972, he arrested various lawyers, academics, and intellectuals who were likely to lead protests against the move. Yorac was among the first to be arrested,and was imprisoned inCamp Cramefor three months.Upon her release, Yorac volunteered her services to theFree Legal Assistance Group(FLAG), notably helpingLino BrockaandBehn Cervanteswhen they were charged with inciting to sedition in 1984.

Private career

Yorac taught and served in the Admissions Screening Committee of theUniversity of the Philippines College of Law.She was an assistant vice president for academic affairs at the University of the Philippines Diliman and a senior researcher at the University of the Philippines Law Center. She also became the chief legal counsel of the University of the Philippines for a few years.

Public career

She was appointed by then PresidentCorazon Aquinoto serve as commissioner of thePhilippine Commission on Elections (COMELEC)in 1986.

She was also a key figure in the new government's peace process, having served as chairperson of the National Unification Council a predecessor of theOffice of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process,which was created on the council's recommendation in July 1993.

Yorac vied for a seat in thePhilippine Senatein the 1998 national elections through theReporma–LMparty ofRenato de Villabut lost.

Death

Haydee Yorac's tomb at theLibingan ng mga Bayani.

Yorac battled with ovarian cancer and died on September 12, 2005, inChicago,aged 64. Her remains were buried at theLibingan ng mga Bayani.She was succeeded as PCGG chair byCamilo Sabio.

Legacy

Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, showing names from the 2005 batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Haydee Yorac.

For her activism and volunteer legal work during martial law, and for her later work at theCommission on Electionsand thePresidential Commission on Good Government,Yorac was honored upon her death by having her name etched on the Wall of Remembrance of the Philippines'Bantayog ng mga Bayani,which honors the martyrs and heroes who fought to defeat the Marcos dictatorship.

Publications

• "Legal Status of Mercenaries"
• "Preventive Detention and Metaphysics of Repression"
• "Child Custody Determinations: A Reappraisal"
• "The Philippine Claim to the Spratly Island Group,"Philippine Law Journal
• Philippine Treaty Series, Vols. 1–4, 6–7 (editor)

Professional and civic affiliations

• Integrated Bar of the Philippines
• Philippine Society of International Law
• American Society of International Law
• Free Legal Assistance Group (National Board Member)
• U.P.Alpha Phi Omegasorority (Formerly U.P. Kappa Phi Omega Sorority)