Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) — Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo Buena, who drafted the High Court’s ruling on the Visiting Forces Agreement two decades ago, passed away Thursday due to illness. Buena was 87.
The Guiaan, Eastern Samar native is survived by his wife, three children and his grandchildren.
During his brief three-year stint in the Supreme Court, Buena penned over 200 decisions including the court ruling en banc that upheld the VFA in October 2000. Buena ruled to dismiss five petitions that questioned the constitutionality of the VFA. The decision stated the President has the jurisdiction to enter into treaties or international agreements as provided in the Constitution.
Just two days before Buena’s death, President Rodrigo Duterte moved to terminate the VFA.
Buena also worked as Acting Deputy Court Administrator, Deputy Court Administrator, and Acting Court Administrator. He became Associate Justice at the Court of Appeals in 1986 before he moved to the Supreme Court in 1999. He retired in 2002. He was also a law professor at the University of Santo Tomas, his alma mater.
His remains are at the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. Details of his internment are not yet available.
