Algamar Latiph
Algamar A. Latiph is a Filipino lawyer who is the chief legislative officer of Senator Robin Padilla since 2022. Throughout his legal career, he has advocated for the rights of Moro people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the Philippines.
Education
[edit]Latiph passed the Philippine bar exam in 2000.[1] In 2007, he completed a three-month Chevening Fellowships for Islam and Governance at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.[2]
Career
[edit]In the 2000s, Latiph chaired the Muslim Youth and Students Alliance in Manila.[3]
Latiph chaired the Regional Human Rights Commission (RHRC) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the 2010s, with the organization conducting an investigation with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) into the ill-fated police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.[4] In 2016, he petitioned for the Supreme Court to deny the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, arguing that many Moros suffered under his dictatorship.[5] Latiph also served in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission that drafted the 2018 Bangsamoro Organic Law establishing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).[6]
In July 2020, Latiph and three other Muslim lawyers filed the 16th petition (out of 37) before the Supreme Court that challenged the legality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.[7] During his oral argument in February 2021, Latiph asked the court to decide on the petitions "in the name of liberty and love".[8]
Upon Muslim actor Robin Padilla's election to the Senate in 2022, Latiph was hired as his chief legislative officer.[9] During his tenure, Latiph assisted in the creation of a Senate bill that sought to strengthen the powers of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) in classifying media.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Latiph is married to fellow lawyer Maisara Dandamun-Latiph from Manila, who advocates for better education as well as women and children's rights; they have two children.[11][2]
References
[edit]- ^ "660 out of 3,978 pass bar examinations". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 15, no. 104. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. March 21, 2000. p. 7. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
[...] LASOLA, Jeffrey Nicandro S.; LATIPH, Algamar A.; LAUREA, Pearl Angelie T.;[...]
- ^ a b Dandamun-Latiph, Atty. Maisara C. (November 30, 2007). "Living my dream". The Moro Times. The Manila Times. p. D2.
Apart from Iqra [Kiddie Learning], my daughter [Azeeza] and husband [Algamar Latiph] gave me the inspiration to prod on and to pursue my masters. I believe in the power of education to [lift our] people out of poverty and ignorance.
- ^ Latiph, Algamar (August 31, 2007). "Lanao: Leafing through the chronicle of a foreigner". The Moro Times. The Manila Times. p. D2.
- ^ Mateo, Janvic (February 10, 2015). "CHR starts own probe on Mamasapano clash". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines: Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Lopez, Virgil (August 31, 2016). "Petitioners insist: Hero's burial for Marcos would glorify dictator, distort history". GMA News Online. GMA Network, Inc. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
For his part, CHR Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Director Algamar Latiph said the Moros suffered so much during the Marcos years, highlighted by an insurgency that Duterte wants to end under his leadership.[...] The lawyer turned emotional while presenting his arguments, saying a relative was a victim of the dictatorship.
- ^ Gonzales, Cathrine (July 7, 2018). "BTC lawyer urges bicam committee to restore deleted BBL provisions". Inquirer.net. Inquirer Interactive, Inc. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Nonato, Vince (July 27, 2020). "Muslim Stereotypes Lead To Mistaken Identity: Why Bangsamoro Lawyers Oppose The Anti-Terrorism Act". OneNews.PH. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Torres-Tupas, Tetch (February 2, 2021). "Muslim lawyer to SC: Stand firm in the name of liberty and love in deciding on anti-terror petitions". Inquirer.net. Manila, Philippines: Inquirer Interactive, Inc. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Fonbuena, Carmela (February 28, 2023). "All eyes on Maisara Latiph, who will decide compensation of Marawi siege victims". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
- ^ Padilla, Robin (March 30, 2023). "Technical working group para sa ating Panukala na Bigyan ng Ipin ang MTRCB". Facebook (in Filipino). Meta Platforms, Inc. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
Sa pamumuno ni Atty Algamar Latiph at Committee Secretary Mam Bernadine Mahinay
- ^ "Latiph, Maisara Dandamun". Bangsamoro Parliament. Management Information System Division - Bangsamoro Parliament. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
She [Maisara Dandamun Latiph] is married to a fellow lawyer and human rights advocate – Attorney Algamar Latiph.