Ex-Sandiganbayan Justice Pamaran, known as the 'Hanging Judge' dies at 94

World War II veteran and retired Sandiganbayan Justice Manuel Pamaran passed away on Wednesday at the age of 94.

The Veterans Federation of the Philippines, to which Pamaran served as President, confirmed the judge’s passing in a Facebook post.

“A most loved and revered comrade, an icon of integrity and justice, has left us for the great beyond…He will forever shine in our skies as a beacon star of honesty, competence and integrity,” the post read.

The Philippine Veterans Bank, J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF), and PUP College of Law Research Corps also paid tribute to the late judge.

“The Philippine Veterans Bank family is one with the Veterans Community in mourning the passing of VFP President, Justice Manual Pamaran. He was a World War II veteran and a retired Sandigan Bayan judge. He will be missed,” the Philippine Veterans Bank wrote on Facebook.

On Sept. 25, 2019, JAAF led the tribute to Pamaran in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governor's Cup Game.

Pamaran was known by many as the “hanging judge,” a moniker that he earned after sentencing to death multiple high-profile criminals including Juanito “Waway” Alde and Evelyn “Baby China” Duave.

Pamaran had an eight-year stint as a Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice from June, 1978, to March, 1986. He also served as a legal consultant to the Office of the Vice President from 1996 to 1998, and Presidential Assistant on Justice for the Office of the President from 1998 until 2001.

Aside from being a lawyer, Pamaran was also an educator. He previously served as Dean of the College of Law of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay and was also a lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

According to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Pamaran was one of President Rodrigo Duetrte’s former law professors.

In 2018, Pamaran was appointed as acting president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines. Prior to his appointment as president of the VFP, he also served the federation as its Executive Vice President.

Pamaran also served as president of the Hunters-ROTC Guerrilla Association, which is the organization of the guerilla unit that he was a part of during World War II.

In a 2019 interview with The Manila Bulletin, Pamaran left this message for Filipinos on Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor): “If you do not care for your freedom and democracy, nobody will care for you. Then, you will be enslaved only by the strongest nation.”