Teófilo Sison

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Leuterio and the surname or paternal family name is Sison.

The Honorable Teófilo L. Sison
Commissioner of Justice
In office December 4, 1942 – October 14, 1943
Appointed by	Manuel Quezon
Preceded by	Jose P. Laurel
Succeeded by	Quintin Paredes
Secretary of Justice
In office July 18, 1941 – November 27, 1941
Appointed by	Manuel Quezon
Preceded by	Jose Abad Santos
Succeeded by	Jose P. Laurel
Secretary of National Defense
In office November 1, 1939 – July 15, 1941
Appointed by	Manuel Quezon
Preceded by	Post established
Succeeded by	Manuel Quezon in concurrent capacity as President
Senator of the Philippines from the 2nd district
In office June 5, 1928 – November 15, 1935 Serving with Camilo Osías (1928–1929) Alejandro de Guzman (1929-1931) Alejo Mabanag (1931–1935)
Preceded by	Alejo Mabanag
Succeeded by	Post abolished
8th Governor of Pangasinan
In office October 16, 1922 – June 25, 1928
Preceded by	Daniel Maramba
Succeeded by	Pedro Quintans
Member of the Lingayen Municipal Council
In office June 1916 – October 1919
Personal details
Born	(1880-02-29)February 29, 1880 Dagupan, Pangasinan, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	April 13, 1975(1975-04-13) (aged 95) Philippines
Political party	Nacionalista
Spouse	Filomena Solis

Teófilo Leuterio Sison (February 29, 1880 – April 13, 1975) was a Philippine legislator and the first Secretary of National Defense of the Philippine Commonwealth.

Early life

Sison was born on February 29, 1880, in Dagupan, Pangasinan, to Benito Sison and Escolástica Leuterio.

He studied at the College of San Alberto Magno, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896 and the University of Santo Tomas, B.A., in the same year. He taught in the public schools of Binmaley, Pangasinan from October 19o0 until June 1901.

Career

On July 1, 1901, he was appointed interpreter for the Court of First Instance Third Judicial District. It was during his term as court interpreter that he married Filomena Solis in Lingayen, Pangasinan on November 19, 1910. He served in such capacity until July 1, 1914, when he was reappointed to a similar position in the 5th District where he remained until September 30, 1914.

After he passed the Philippine Bar examination on September 7, 1914, he established his own law office and engaged in the active practice of his profession.

Legislative career

In June 1916, he was elected Municipal Councilor of Lingayen, a position he held until October 1919. He went on to become Provincial Governor of Pangasinan during the June 1922 election and was re-elected in the general elections of 1925.

Then in June 1928, he was elected for the Second Senatorial District, comprising the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union and Zambales. As Senator during the period 1928–1931, he was Chairman of the Committees on Civil Service and National Enterprise, and member of the following committees: Finance, Public Works and Communication, Appointments, Justice, Municipal and Provincial Governments, Election and Privileges, City of Manila, Commerce and Industry, Labor and Immigration.

During the 9th Legislative Assembly, he was chairman of the Committee of Justice and member of the following committees: Finance, Public Works and Communication, Appointments, Public Instruction, External Relations, Banks Corporations and Franchise, Commerce and Industry, City of Manila, Municipal and Provincial Governments, Labor and Immigration, Civil Service and Library.

Secretary of National Defense

He was appointed Secretary of National Defense on November 1, 1939, during the presidency of Manuel Quezon pursuant to the enactment of Commonwealth Act No. 1 or the National Defense Act.

Don Teofilo Sison Bridge, Carmen, Rosales

Death

He died two months after his 95th birthday on April 13, 1975. He was buried at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.

See also

• List of secretaries of the Department of National Defense of the Philippines

References

• Sison's Biography