21 Facts About Barry Gutierrez

Ibarra "Barry" M Gutierrez III was born on February 2,1974 and is a Filipino lawyer, activist and educator who formerly served as the spokesperson of then-Vice President Leni Robredo.

Barry Gutierrez is a law professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law, a public interest and human rights lawyer, and a former congressman.

In recognition of his legislative successes and exemplary public service, Gutierrez was conferred the 2015 "Gawad Lagablab Award," the highest honor given by the Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association to alumni of the school in recognition of outstanding achievements worthy of emulation in their respective fields of endeavor.

Barry Gutierrez was born on February 2,1974, in Quezon City, Philippines.

An "Iskolar ng Bayan" through and through, Barry Gutierrez is a product of the public school system.

Barry Gutierrez attended the UP Integrated School for basic education and the Philippine Science High School for higher learning.

Barry Gutierrez quit a few months later after winning an intellectual property infringement case against a couple who ran a small-time retail operation that sold fake T-shirts.

Barry Gutierrez's resignation was triggered when he later saw the couple after the court rendered its verdict.

Barry Gutierrez then joined the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panlegal-Alternative Legal Assistance Center from 1999 to 2000, a non-government organization fighting for the rights of the marginalized sectors and local communities towards the empowerment of women, indigenous peoples, farmers and the other basic sectors, and local communities.

Barry Gutierrez has acted as a technical consultant and adviser on numerous initiatives undertaken by government agencies and legislative offices, principally in relation to human rights concerns.

Barry Gutierrez served as the chief legal counsel for Akbayan since 2004.

Barry Gutierrez has handled cases before trial courts, administrative tribunals and even the Supreme Court, involving issues such as the freedom of speech and public assembly, suffrage, housing rights, and adequate regulation for public utilities.

In 2001, Barry Gutierrez joined the UP College of Law faculty as an assistant professor, where he taught courses on Human Rights, Criminal Law, Local Governments, Public Officers and Election Law, and Property Law.

Barry Gutierrez is the youngest ever to be appointed to the position.

Barry Gutierrez resigned a year later after his successful bid within Akbayan, as a nominee for the May 2013 partylist election.

On July 1,2013, Barry Gutierrez was sworn into office as a representative of Akbayan Partylist to the House of Representatives of the Philippines for the 16th Congress, and was assigned as Vice Chairperson of two House of Representatives committees: notably, the committees on Human Rights and the Revision of Laws.

Barry Gutierrez is a member of eight other committees, namely: Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Health, Local Government, Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, Women and Gender Equality, and Ethics and Privileges.

Barry Gutierrez was a noted champion of several key legislative reform agenda forward, with special focus on transparency, accountability and participative governance.

Barry Gutierrez became a notable advocate of the Freedom of Information bill, Zero Hunger Campaign, Socialized and Adequate Housing, the Equal Opportunity Campaign, and Fair Competition.

Barry Gutierrez was among those who for the abolition of the pork barrel system, saying, "[Congress] can no longer shut its eyes to how badly the PDAF has been exploited by the unscrupulous".

Barry Gutierrez pushed for the adoption of "far-reaching reforms into the budget system" to stem corruption.