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Mike Navallo is a Filipino journalist, lawyer, and public information officer. He currently serves as the Chief Communications Officer of the Supreme Court, a position he was appointed to on April 16, 2024. Navallo is known for his work as a legal reporter for ABS-CBN News and for his expertise in covering high-profile legal cases and human rights issues in the Philippines.

Early life and education

Navallo was born in Surigao City, Agusan del Norte, Philippines. He graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication in 2005, earning the distinction of magna cum laude. He later pursued a law degree at the University of the Philippines College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 2009.

Career

Early legal career

Before transitioning to journalism, Mike Navallo worked as a litigator and law associate at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan, one of the Philippines’ leading law firms, from January 2010 to November 2013. During this time, he gained extensive experience in legal practice, handling complex cases and contributing to the firm’s reputation for excellence.

Following his tenure at SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan, Navallo served as a research consultant for Amnesty International from November 2013 to July 2015. In this role, he contributed to research on police torture and human rights violations, further solidifying his expertise in legal and human rights issues.

Journalism

Navallo joined ABS-CBN News in 2015, where he worked for eight years, primarily covering human rights stories and the Justice beat. His reporting focused on the Supreme Court, appellate courts, trial courts, and the Department of Justice. He was part of the team that won the 2017 Society of Publishers in Asia Award for Human Rights Reporting and received the Award of Distinction from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility in 2023.

In 2017, Navallo was selected as a Reham al-Farra Fellow by the United Nations, a program that recognizes young journalists from developing countries. He was also a four-time fellow for the Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar, organized by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.

One of his notable engagements occurred in February 2020, when he was confronted by then-Solicitor General Jose Calida during a press briefing. Navallo stood his ground during the confrontation, earning praise from colleagues and the public for his professionalism.

In 2024, before joining the Supreme Court, Navallo worked as a Reagan Fascell Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy. During his fellowship, he conducted research on the evolution of influence operations in Philippine elections, comparing them to electoral practices in Brazil, Taiwan, and Indonesia. His work highlighted the growing role of disinformation and digital manipulation in shaping democratic processes.

Supreme Court appointment

On April 16, 2024, Navallo was appointed as the Chief Communications Officer of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. In this role, he oversees the court’s public information and communications strategies, ensuring transparency and accessibility in the judiciary’s engagement with the public.

References

1. "Mike Navallo". ACPC22 Speakers.
2. "Mike Navallo". ACPC22 Speakers.
3. "Mike Navallo". ACPC22 Speakers.
4. "SC appoints chief communications officer, spokesperson". Manila Bulletin. April 16, 2024.
5. "Hooray! Mike Navallo assumes role as Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer". Abogado.com.ph. August 8, 2024.
6. "'Lagi mo akong binabanatan': Calida confronts ABS-CBN reporter". Rappler. February 10, 2020.
7. "WATCH: Solicitor General confronts ABS-CBN reporter". ABS-CBN News. February 10, 2020.
8. "Matandang bully! NUPL condemns Calida's face off with ABS-CBN reporter". Politiko. February 11, 2020.
9. "ABS-CBN reporter Mike Navallo earns praise for standing up to SolGen Jose Calida". PEP.ph. February 11, 2020.
10. "Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program". National Endowment for Democracy.
11. "SC names Navallo as SC chief communications officer". Inquirer.net. April 16, 2024.
12. "Supreme Court names new spokesperson, public information office chief". Rappler. April 16, 2024.
13. "Journalist, lawyer join SC comms team". Politiko. April 17, 2024.
14. "Lawyer-journalist na si Atty. Mike Navallo, itinalaga bilang Chief Communications Officer ng Supreme Court". RadyoMaN Manila. April 16, 2024.

• Living people
• Filipino journalists
• Filipino lawyers
• University of the Philippines alumni
• Mass communication graduates
• Juris Doctors
• ABS-CBN News personalities