Former Associate Justice Magdangal Elma dies at 86

Veteran lawyer and former Associate Justice Magdangal B. Elma, who held significant government positions under various administrations, passed away on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the age of 86.

Elma's extensive public service included roles such as Presidential Assistant for Legal and Judicial Affairs and Acting Executive Secretary under the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino.

He also served as chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and chief presidential legal counsel for former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Furthermore, Elma was the Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns for the late President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals.

He was a name partner at the Belo Gozon Elma Parel Asuncion & Lucila Law Offices, alongside prominent figures like GMA Network chairman Felipe L. Gozon.

Born in Lucban, Quezon, Elma was an accomplished scholar, earning his bachelor's and law degrees cum laude from the University of the Philippines and a Master of Laws from Yale Law School.