MARIA LEONOR GERONA ROBREDO

Representative, Third District of Camarines Sur (16th Congress of the Philippines) (2013-2016) Vice chairman of the House committees on good governance, public accountability, and revision of laws, and member of 11 other house panels. Participatory governance and transparency were major thrusts of Robredo's legislative agenda and is known for being a strong advocate of the Freedom of Information Act.   Branch Coordinator and Lawyer of SALIGAN-BICOL (1999-2012) Actively involved in pushing for initiatives that seek further engagement of the base sectors in every aspect of governance and policy-making. Aside from representing the basic sectors in court, provided legal education for clients through legal clinics as well as the translation and publication of Bicol Versions of relevant laws for greater accessibility and understanding among the different groups. SALIGAN is a legal resource non-government organization doing development legal work with the basic sectors—women, farmers, fisher folk, laborers, the urban poor, indigenous peoples, and local communities. SALIGAN seeks to effect societal change by working towards the empowerment of these basic sectors through the creative use of the law and legal resources.   Public Attorney for the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) (1997-1999) Rendered legal assistance, counseling, and other legal services to indigent litigants to ensure their free access to the courts, as mandated by the Constitution.