Rodel A. Cruz

Rodel A. Cruz is a Senior Partner of Cruz Marcelo and Tenefrancia. He has extensive experience in commercial & corporate litigation, tax litigation, insolvency and corporate rehabilitation proceedings, regulatory enforcement cases, estate settlement, election cases, prosecution and defense of white-collar crimes, and public policy litigation.

Mr. Cruz represents a wide range of clients, including some of the country’s leading companies and conglomerates, and industry-wide organizations involved in agriculture, aviation, energy, and shipping. As part of his pro bono advocacies, he earned recognition for his oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, acting as lead counsel for the Philippine Bar Association. He is consistently recognized as one of the country’s top litigators. The Legal 500 cited Mr. Cruz as a leading individual in dispute resolution practice. Asia Law Client Service Excellence 2020 cited client reviews that noted his meticulous case preparation and ability to explain the substance and process of the litigation resulting in legal representation that “goes beyond what is paid for.”

Mr. Cruz previously served as Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense, chaired meetings of the ASEAN Regional Forum and led negotiations for bilateral and multilateral treaties and executive agreements. He served as Undersecretary in the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, where he rendered legal advice on policy issues, drafted key presidential issuances, coordinated public policy litigation and international arbitration, and vetted appointments to the Judiciary.

Mr. Cruz obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of the Philippines in 1987, graduating cum laude. He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1992, graduating among the top ten of his class.