President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administered the oath of office to Atty. Frederick A. Vida as the new Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) during a ceremony held at Malacañang Palace on Monday.
Secretary Vida formally assumes the position, filling the vacancy created by the appointment of former Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla as Ombudsman in October.
A dedicated lawyer and public servant, Secretary Vida brings a deep understanding of the department’s operations and the broader legal landscape of the nation. His career trajectory within the administration has been marked by rapid advancement, beginning as an Assistant Secretary at the DOJ in January 2023 before being promoted to Undersecretary in October of the same year.
Before his tenure at the DOJ, Secretary Vida served as an Assistant Secretary in the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.
Before joining the national government, Vida established a distinguished record in local governance, having been elected Mayor of the Municipality of Mendez-Nuñez, Cavite, where he served three consecutive terms from 2013 to 2022. During this period, he also led the Mayor’s League of Cavite as President from 2019 to 2022. His public service career commenced in 2007 as the Vice Mayor of Mendez-Nuñez.
Secretary Vida is a highly credentialed legal professional. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines. He proceeded to the Ateneo School of Law, where he completed his Juris Doctor degree and graduated with Silver Medalist distinction. Secretary Vida passed the 1996 Philippine Bar Exam and practiced law, initially as an associate in a private firm before establishing his own successful law practice.
“I am profoundly honored by the trust and confidence placed in me by the President,” said Secretary Vida. “The Department of Justice is at the forefront of upholding the rule of law, and I commit to advancing justice reform, ensuring accountability, and maintaining the highest standards of legal integrity and public service for all Filipinos.”
