Claro M. Recto
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Claro M. Recto (February 8, 1890—October 2 1960), was a Filipino politician.
He was born in Tiaong, Tayabas Province (now known as Quezon province). He went to Lipa and studied Latin in the Instituto de Rizal from 1900 to 1901.
Further studies were at the Colegio del Sagrado Corazon of Don Sebastian Virrey and he then went to Manila and studied at Ateneo de Manila where he obtained outstanding scholastic grades. As a freshman he got an average of 94%, sophomore 98%, junior 100% and senior 100%. He graduated and obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree as "maxima cum laude".
He studied Law at the University of Santo Tomas. At the age of 24, he received his Masters of Laws degree, and was admitted to the bar. He entered the government service and served as a legal adviser to the first Philippine Senate in 1916. In 1919, he was elected representative from Batangas and was minority floor leader until 1925. He went to the United States as a member of the Independence Mission, and was admitted to the American Bar in 1924. Upon his return he founded the Democrata Party in the Philippines. In 1928, he temporarily retired from active politics and dedicated himself to his law practice.
He became a Senator in 1931 and later a majority floor leader of the Senate in 1934. He also served as president of the constitutional convention that established the Commonwealth regime in 1935. He was appointed to the Philippine Supreme Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt after the US Senate`s confirmation on April 16, 1935. He stayed on the bench from July 3, 1935 to November 1, 1936 and then returned to private law practice.
In 1941, he ran for the senate and garnered the highest number of votes among the 24 elected senators. He was re-elected in 1949 as a Nacionalista and again in 1953 as a guest candidate of the Liberal Party.
He was accused of treason and collaboration with the Japanese, and he was detained by the United forces in Diliman, then in Iwahig and from then, was sent to Muntinlupa. He was charged with treason but was later acquitted.
In 1957, he ran for president but lost to Vice President Carlos P. Garcia. On August 24, 1960, he was appointed Cultural Envoy with the rank of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary on Cultural Mission to Europe and Latin America. On October 2, 1960, he suffered a fatal heart attack in Rome, Italy while on his mission and died.