Rowena Guanzon is a Filipino lawyer and government official. She is currently serving as congresswoman who won as first nominee of P3PWD Party-list. Previously, she was one of the commissioners of the Commission on Election (COMELEC).
Latest Update
June 23, 2022 – Comelec en banc junked Duterte Youth Party-list’s verified opposition to Guanzon’s substitution as a nominee of P3PWD Party-list. She then took her oath of office as congresswoman before Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Edwin Sorsogon. Previously, the original five nominees of the party-list resigned paving the way for her nomination.
February 2, 2022 – Rowena Guanzon retires from COMELEC along with Chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioner Antonio Kho Jr. Previously, she released to media her vote to disqualify former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the May 9, 2022 presidential elections. She has also alleged that the elections commission planned to nullify her vote by releasing the results of the COMELEC’s decision after her retirement. Commissioner Aimee Ferolino denied the allegations.
April, 2020 – Atty. Guanzon captured public attention for her viral tweets about the controversial shooting of retired army corporal Winston Ragos with the hashtags #BawalAngShunga. She even challenged anyone to debate with her except that only those graduates from the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila law schools and teaching law are qualified.
Those who are challenging me to a debate about the killing of Corporal Ragos should do it personally and directly .Baka sumikat kayo, chance nyo na ito. But be sure u graduated from UP Law or Ateneo Law and u are teaching law. Otherwise don’t waste my time #BawalAngShunga
— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) April 26, 2020
Commissioner Guanzon is a feisty and outspoken official. After the May 13, 2019, she hogged the limelight for her public pronouncements regarding the case of the former head of the National Youth Commission Ronald Cardema who was barred by the COMELEC from becoming a party list representative.
Personal Information
Complete Name –> Maria Rowena Amalia V. Guanzon
Nickname –> Bing
Birthday –> August 29
Birth Place –> Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Family
Father –> Sixto Guanzon, a retired RTC judge
Mother –> Elvira Villena Guanzon, formerly Cadiz City Vice Mayor
Education
High School – Silliman University
College – University of the Philippines
Degree – Economics, Bachelor of Laws
Graduate School – Harvard University
Degree – Master in Public Administration
Work Experiences
2022-Present – Congresswoman (P3PWD Party-list First Nominee)
2015-2022 – Commissioner, COMELEC
2013-2015 – Commissioner, Commission on Audit
* Chief of Staff, Office of Former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago
1988-1992 – Elected Mayor, Cadiz City
1986-1988 – Appointed Mayor, Cadiz City
Books Authored
The Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004
Engendering the Philippine Judiciary
The Davide Court: Its Contributions to Gender and Women’s Rights
The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act: Notes and Cases
Awards
American Field Service Mabuhay Award
UP Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Alumna
RELATED: List of Congressmen of the Philippines 2022 – 2025
RELATED: Biography of Sheriff Abas, James Jimenez, Antonio Kho Jr.
See also: Top Government Officials Under Ferdinand Marcos Jr.