Ruben O. Fruto

Ruben O. Fruto was a Partner in the law firm of Feria, Feria, Lugtu & La O’ and the Oben, Fruto & Ventura Law Office. He handled trial and litigation work, covering civil cases (contracts, commercial transactions, maritime, estate, family relations, transportation, and other civil cases), labor cases and administrative proceedings. He also had extensive appellate practice before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. He also served as a Consultant of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In 1986, he served as Chief Legal Counsel and Senior Vice-President of the Development Bank of the Philippines and later on as Undersecretary of Finance, supervising the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs. He also served as Vice-Chairman of the Garments and Textile Export Board, Commissioner of the Export Processing Zone, Director of the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines; Chairman of the Board of Capitol Development Bank, Board Member of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Authority, Board Member of the Mactan International Airport Authority, Deputy General Counsel of the Davide Commission, and Chief Legal Counsel of the Feria Fact Finding Committee created to investigate the Garchitorena land scam. In 1991, he was the Bar Examiner for Taxation Law.

He served as director of several corporations and is an active member and officer of various professional organizations. He was also President of the Philippine Bar Association.

Mr. Fruto obtained his Bachelor of Laws in 1961 from the Ateneo de Manila University, and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1962.