César Bengzon

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Cabrera and the surname or paternal family name is Bengzon.

The Honorable César Bengzon
Official portrait
9th Chief Justice of the Philippines
In office April 28, 1961 – May 29, 1966
Appointed by	Carlos P. Garcia
Preceded by	Ricardo Paras Jr.
Succeeded by	Roberto Concepcion
37th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
In office 1945–1961
Appointed by	Sergio Osmeña
Preceded by	Manuel Moran
Succeeded by	Dionisio de Leon
Personal details
Born	César Fernando Bengzon y Cabrera (1896-05-29)May 29, 1896 Camiling, Tarlac, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	September 3, 1992(1992-09-03) (aged 96) Philippines
Parent(s)	Vicente Bengzon Paz Cabrera

César Fernando Cabrera Bengzon (May 29, 1896 – September 3, 1992) was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from April 28, 1961 until May 29, 1966. In November 1966, a few months after his retirement, he became the first Filipino to be appointed to the International Court of Justice.

Judicial career

Bengzon earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ateneo de Manila in 1915. He graduated his Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines in 1919, and placed second in the Bar Examinations that same year.

Starting out as a law clerk, he was promoted to Solicitor General in 1932 and Undersecretary of Justice under Governor-General (later U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Frank Murphy in 1933. He was later appointed in 1936 to the Court of Appeals, and became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1945. He left the Supreme Court in 1948 to become Secretary of Justice under President Elpidio Quirino, but was reinstated a few months later.

Death

He died on September 3, 1992 at age 96. Upon to his death, he is the longest-lived former Chief Justice ever recorded.

References

• Cesar Fernando Bengzon Baptismal Certificate
• Cruz, Isagani A. (2000). Res Gestae: A Brief History of the Supreme Court. Rex Book Store, Manila