New DTI-CPG Asec an Ilonggo

DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez administers the oath taking of Atty. Ernesto V. Perez (right).

An Ilonggo lawyer was recently appointed and sworn in as Assistant Secretary for the Consumer Protection Group of the DTI, under the administration of Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte. Atty. Ernesto V. Perez took his oath of office before DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez last December 22, 2016.

Perez graduated class valedictorian from Mandurriao Elementary School, Iloilo City in 1972 and as high school class salutatorian from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) in 1976.

He completed his bachelor’s degree in business administration major in accountancy from UPV as a consistent college scholar and an Adriano Hernandez scholar. He finished his Bachelor of Laws at the Ateneo Law School in 1986, and passed the bar examination in 1987 as the Top 15 passer of his batch.

He has been involved in community service since his college years, serving as President of the University Student Council of UPV in 1978-1980. He was also President of the Rotary Club of Makati Central in 2014 and the current coordinator for the Philippines of the Rotarian Action Group against Child Slavery. He is also serving as the treasurer and finance committee chairman of the Ateneo Law Alumni Association.

CPG Undersecretary Teodoro C. Pascua and Management Services Group (MSG) Undersecretary Rowel S. Barba witnessed the ceremony. Perez has been practicing law since 1987, with expertise in the fields of international relations, immigration, banking, taxation, labor, insurance, transportation, corporate, and criminal and civil litigation.

Prior to his assumption into office, Perez served as managing partner for the EV Perez Law Office (2014), the Gana Manlangit & Perez Law Office (2009-2014), and the Martinez and Perez Law Offices (1990-2009).

He also worked as lecturer on negotiable instruments, credit transactions, and remedial law in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Law (2009-2014), and as a senior associate at Cesar C. Cruz and Partners (1987-1988, 1989-1990).

As a certified public accountant, he worked as a credit and collection manager in Hoechst Agro Chemicals, Inc. (1988-1989), a financial analyst at the Philippine National Bank (1981-1986), and a project accountant at the Philippine Hospitals and Health Services, Inc. (1980-1981).