PROFILE OF AN ACHIEVER
ATTY. IMMANUEL L. SODUSTA
Competent Lawyer
by Ulysses V. Espartero
Lawyer Immanuel L. Sodusta loves what he does as a Legal Consultant because this allow him to extend his services to the people and contribute to the development of Aklan as a province worth visiting by tourists.
He has earned respect as a skilled lawyer who pursues and defends the cause of his clients to the best of his ability and knowledge so that justice is achieved. As a lawyer, he makes his legal services available in an efficient and convenient manner compatible with the independence, integrity and effectivity of the legal profession.
Nolly, as he is fondly called, was born on October 27, 1963 to spouses Ernesto G. Sodusta and Leonisa Labor Sodusta. He is happily married to Angeles Geraldino-Sodusta, a retired government employee with 2 children - Hannah Joy, 18; Gamaliel, 4.
He took his elementary education at Jalas Elementary School (1969-1975) and his secondary education at Roxas Memorial School of Arts and Trades, Kalibo (1975-1979). He earned a degree in Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science at the Central Philippine University in 1983. He pursued a degree in Bachelor of Laws at San Beda College (1983-1985) and graduated at the Far Eastern University in 1988
He first worked as Language Assistant at the SIL from June 1985 to October 1989.
GOVERNMENT SERVICE
In November 1989, he was named MTIO at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) where he served until September 1990. He then transferred to the Department of Agrarian Reform Officer (DAR) as a Para-Legal Officer until June 1993 when he was promoted as Attorney III.
In August 1994, he was posted as Clerk of Court V at the RTC Branch 9 in Kalibo. He worked until October
1995.
PROFESSION AS A LAWYER
A bar topnotcher, he was no. 15 in the bar examinations given on September, 1992. He is also a Career Service Professional having passed the examination in October 1984.
He is an Alumnus/Participant of the Academy of American and International Law, Dallas, TX, USA where he studied in 1997.
In November 1995, he joined the Salazar, Marin and Sodusta Law Office and worked full time as a practicing lawyer. He leads in the preparation of pleadings and other legal documents. He also attends to client’s cases in any suit or proceedings with zeal within the bounds of the law and legislations to defend and resolve issues. He is also known as a lawyer who upholds the integrity and dignity of the legal profession and versed in law and in the administration of justice.
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| Atty. Noli with the Board of Governors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines taking oath before the Supreme Court en banc |
He handled several cases which included criminal, civil, special civic actions, special proceedings, labor, land registration, agrarian and administrative cases. He entered appearances and submitted pleadings in the Municipal/Metropolitan Trial Courts of Kalibo (Aklan), Makati, Antique and Iloilo.
He is also a Legal Counsel of the Cooperative Rural Bank of Aklan (1997-199), Rural Bank of Altavas (October 1998 to present) and Branch Retainer/Counsel of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) from 1999 to 2007. He is also a Director and Legal Counsel of the Rural Bank of New Washington from May 2000 to present. He is also a counsel of the Bank of Philippine Islands and United Coconut Planters Bank.
He is also a director, stockholder and legal officer of numerous financing companies and in the business undertakings in the province.
He was elected Governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Western Visayas for the years 2003-2005, the first Aklanon to hold the position since its foundation in 1973 elected by the ten IBP Chapter Presidents of the ten provinces and key cities in Western Visayas. A governor of IBP sits in the National Board and formulates policies in the national level.
He was Senior Deputy Director for Legal Aid, IBP National, 2006-2007 and President, Integrated Bar of the Philippines Aklan Chapter- 1997-1999. He also served as Secretary of IBP Aklan in 2005 and held different positions in the chapter up to the present.
EDUCATOR
As an educator, he was admitted as instructor and professor at the Aklan Catholic College in June 1993 to 1997. From 1993 to 1998, he was Professor at the Aklan College Institute of Accountancy where he taught commercial law subjects to students who have now become accountants. This is in addition to being professor in the Institute of Law.
He is at present the Corporate Secretary of Aklan Inter Faith Academy, a pre-school and elementary school in Capitol, Kalibo supported by Glad Tidings Ministries of the Glad Tidings church pastored by an uncle and a brother.
POLITICS
He is legal counsel and consultant of Cong. Allen S. Quimpo during the last six years of his term, Cong. Florencio T. Miraflores (2004 to present), Municipality of Malay (2004 to present) and Municipality of Kalibo (2001 to present). A respected election case lawyer, he handled election cases in the province of Aklan. He had been the legal representative in the elections in Altavas, Malay, Libacao, Madalag and Kalibo. He is a lawyer of Libacao Mayor Roger Esto in an protest against Mayor Charito Navarosa. Esto was declared the rightful winner and served the remaining three months of his term.
COMMUNITY AND CIVIC SERVICE
As a socio-civic person, he has set a good example of hard work, compassion and commitment to the cause of the people because according to him, a good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader; a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.
He was President of the Aklan "Kalantiao" Jaycees in 1995.He is member of the Lambda Rho Beta Fraternity of the San Beda College of Law.
As a Rotarian, he had the chance to serve as Assistant Governor Rotary District 3850, 2007-2008 and President, Rotary Club of Kalibo, 2002-2004. He was involved in many community projects one of which is the Operation Taghoy, a medical mission operating free to persons with facial deformities. He has been a recipient of a Group Study Exchange of the Rotary International (GSE) to North Carolina, USA in 1997.
As a sportsman, he holds membership in Kalibo Gun Club, Inc. (Practical Shooting), Amigo Badminton Club (Badminton) and Fairways and Bluewaters Resort Golf and Country Club (Golf).
In April 2008, he was elected Director of the Aklan Electric Cooperative (Akelco) representing the Kalibo-Numancia district. In July 2009, he was elected Board President of Akelco.
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| bonding moments with wife and two children |
