Aniano A. Desierto

Aniano Aguilar Desierto (born April 25, 1935) is a former Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines from 1995-2002. He headed the Ombudsman Office which investigates all government officials who defy the law of conduct. He assumed the Office of the Philippine Ombudsman on August 4, 1995 as the second person to head the post.

Personal life

Desierto was born on April 25, 1935 in Cebu City. He received his secondary education at the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City, where he also obtained an Associate in Arts. He later obtained Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees at the University of the Philippines, Diliman in 1957, and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1958. Desierto also took up General Management and Marketing Courses at the Ateneo de Manila University and a master's degree at the Philippine Christian University.

Desierto was once the Provincial Division Manager of the Manila Broadcasting Company and of the Metropolitan Broadcasting Company. He is married to Commissioner Teresita A. Desierto.

Career
From 1961 to 1974, Desierto was engaged in private law practice in Cebu and Manila.  He started his career in the government service when he was appointed as Judge Advocate, Office of the AFP Judge Advocate General in 1974. In 1988, he was appointed Deputy Judge Advocate General. He later served as The Special Prosecutor of the Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Ombudsman from April 1, 1991 to August 3, 1995.

On August 4, 1995, he was appointed Ombudsman by then President Fidel V. Ramos.  He served until he retired, or "finish(ed) my term" as he stated it, in August 2002. He was criticized by some for not aggressively investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption.  After he left office, he unsuccessfully sought a slot on the country's Supreme Court.

See also 
 Philippine Ombudsman
 Department of Justice (Philippines)

References

External links
 Aniano Desierto

Category:Living people
Category:1935 births
Category:Filipino judges
Category:Ombudsmen in the Philippines
Category:Filipino lawyers
Category:People from Cebu City
Category:University of San Carlos alumni
Category:University of the Philippines Diliman alumni
Category:Arroyo Administration personnel
Category:Estrada Administration personnel
Category:Ramos Administration personnel
Category:Ateneo de Manila University alumni
Category:Philippine Christian University alumni