We are saddened as we relay our sincerest condolences to the family, relatives and friends, as well as the colleagues and former students, of Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas who passed away yesterday, March 6, at the age of 88.
The Jesuit priest served the Ateneo de Manila University as its Dean twice and was later named Dean Emeritus of the university’s school of law. He was a member of the Philippine Constitutional Commission who actively participated in the deliberations on crucial provisions in the 1987 Constitution.
A true man for others, Fr. Bernas devoted most of his years sharing his knowledge and expertise on political law to aspiring lawyers, a number of whom are now either public servants or private practitioners excelling in their chosen specializations.
He wrote books and commentaries on constitutional and public international law and jurisprudence which are used as authoritative source and reference, not just by the Ateneo but by other law schools throughout the country as well.
He was the class valedictorian of his law batch at the Ateneo and a bar topnotcher. Fr. Bernas acted as an amicus curiae or a “friend of the court” in numerous cases of national importance decided by the Supreme Court.
We join our fellow countrymen, particularly the members of the legal community, in expressing grief for the loss of another great luminary in both fields of law and education.
His life as a legal scholar possessed of an erudite mind, and his works in the realm of spirituality, are an inspiration to the youth of the land and a role model to emulate.
We pray that Fr. Bernas rest in eternal peace and may the perpetual light shine upon him.
