Jose Pio Acosta Bengzon (May 5, 1898 – February 4, 1990) was a Filipino jurist and politician who served as secretary of justice from 1950 to 1951, presiding justice of the Court of Appeals from 1962 to 1964, and associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1964 to 1968. He was also a member of the Batasang Pambansa representing Region IV's at-large district from 1978 to 1984, and of the House of Representatives for Pangasinan's 1st district from 1945 to 1946.
Early life and education Bengzon was born on May 5, 1898, in Lingayen, Pangasinan, to Jose Bengzon and Felicidad Acosta. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ateneo de Manila University and later earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law.
Career
Bengzon's earliest known career was his election as a municipal councilor of Lingayen. In 1941, he ran under the Nacionalista Party as a member of the House of Representatives for Pangasinan's 1st congressional district and won. He was only able to assume office in 1945 following the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, serving in the 1st Commonwealth Congress. In early 1950, he was appointed commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and served as justice undersecretary until his appointment as secretary of justice by President Elpidio Quirino in August of the same year. Bengzon stepped down from his cabinet post to run for the Senate under the Liberal Party in 1951, but lost, placing ninth among the eight contested seats, all of which were won by Nacionalista candidates.
Within his legal career, Bengzon served as president and chairman of the board of the Manila Gas Corporation; a law professor, dean of the College of Law, and acting vice president of the Francisco College; and chief of mission with the rank of minister for the Philippine Reparations Mission in Tokyo, Japan.
In May 1962, President Diosdado Macapagal appointed him presiding justice of the Court of Appeals. He served until September 12, 1964, when he was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court, succeeding Felipe Natividad. He retired in May 1968 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
In 1978, he successfully ran for the Interim Batasang Pambansa under Kilusang Bagong Lipunan as an assemblyman for the 21-member Region IV at-large district, placing twelfth. He retired from public office after his parliamentary tenure ended in 1984.
Personal life Bengzon was married to Antonia Jimenez, with whom he had five children. He died on February 4, 1990.
Electoral history + Electoral history of Jose P. Bengzon Year Office Party Votes received Result Total % . Swing 1941 Representative (Pangasinan–1st) Nacionalista 1st 1951 Senator of the Philippines Liberal 1,277,925 29.10% 9th 1978 Assemblyman (Region IV) KBL 1,565,450 2.82% 12th
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