ATTY. ROMULO B. MACALINTAL
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Election Lawyer

Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal is one of the very few election law practitioners in the country. Oftentimes, he serves as a resource person in various radio and television programs before, during and after the election or every time there is a need to clarify or explain conflicting electoral issues or problems. At present, he is the most visible and sought-after election lawyer by the different media of mass communication in connection with the May 10, 2004 elections.

Romy, as he is fondly called by his friends, passed the 1978 BAR examinations with a rating of 83.1%. He took up his Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of the East, College of Law.

He started to work at an early age of eighteen (18) or immediately after receiving his high school diploma from the Far Eastern University. He was a working student when he obtained his degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce, majored in Advertising, at the Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines).

He worked as a messenger-collector in an insurance company; a mail sorter at the Manila Post Office; a clerk at the defunct Cooperative Administration Office, to name a few, until he worked with the United States Veterans Administration where he also started as a messenger until his resignation in 1978 as a Veterans Benefits Counselor which was one of the highest positions occupied by a Filipino employee in the said office of the U. S. government.

Romy had his baptism of fire in election law practice in l984 when he handled the election case of then Nueva Vizcaya Assemblyman, now Congressman and Minority Floor Leader Carlos Padilla against Leonardo Perez, then Minister of Information of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was his experience in this case that inspired him to pursue a career in the highly specialized field of election law practice.

He keeps himself abreast of current election and political issues and decisions of the Supreme Court in election cases. He compliments this by writing his own articles and opinions on such issues which oftentimes find print in various leading newspapers. He had also written three (3) election law primers on the 1987, 1992 and 1995 elections.

Romy is happily married to Mila Macalintal, a former English Professor of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. They are blessed with three (3) children: Jinel, Victor and Michael. Romy and his wife and children are active parishioners of the Last Supper of Our Lord Parish in Las Pinas City where they are serving as Lectors and Commentators.

Atty. Macalintal is currently having his regular segment, Hatol ng Bayan, on NBN’s (PTV-4) evening news, Telediaryo, where he makes his commentaries and analysis in connection with the May 10, 2004 elections. He also served as an analyst of NBN (PTV-4) during the impeachment trial of former President Estrada.

On the lighter side of his life, Atty. Macalintal also holds the distinction of being the only one in the world who personally met for two (2) hours former Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali when the latter came to Manila in 1975 for the Thrilla in Manila fight with Joe Frazier. Atty. Macalintal’s only pass in meeting Ali was an old scrap book containing Ali’s fights dating back in the 60’s when Ali was still known as Cassius Clay.