Nicanor Yñiguez

Nicanor Espina Yñiguez (November 6, 1915 – April 13, 2007) was a Filipino politician and speaker of the Regular Batasang Pambansa from 1984 to 1986. Considered the "Father of Southern Leyte", he authored the law that created the province of Southern Leyte.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Espina and the surname or paternal family name is Yñiguez.

The Honorable Nicanor Yñiguez
Speaker of the Regular Batasang Pambansa
In office July 23, 1984 – March 25, 1986
Preceded by	Querube Makalintal
Succeeded by	Ramon Mitra Jr. (as Speaker of the House of Representatives)
Member of the Regular Batasang Pambansa
In office June 30, 1984 – March 25, 1986
Constituency	Southern Leyte
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Southern Leyte's at-large district
In office December 30, 1961 – September 23, 1972[1]
Preceded by	Post created
Succeeded by	Roger G. Mercado
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Leyte's 3rd district
In office December 30, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Preceded by	Francisco M. Pajao
Succeeded by	Marcelino R. Veloso
Personal details
Born	Nicanor Espina Yñiguez (1915-11-06)November 6, 1915 Maasin, Leyte, Philippine Islands
Died	April 13, 2007(2007-04-13) (aged 91) Maasin, Southern Leyte, Philippines
Political party	KBL (1978–2007)
Other political affiliations	Nacionalista (1957–1978)
Spouse	Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez
Children	3
Alma mater	Silliman University (AA) University of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Lawyer

Early life and education

Yñiguez finished his Associate in Arts degree from Silliman University in 1935.^[2] Later, he graduated from the University of the Philippines, where he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity with Ferdinand Marcos and Jolly Bugarin in 1937.^[3]

Political career

Yñiguez was first elected to the House of Representatives on December 30, 1957, as representative of Leyte's third district. During his first term, he filed a bill creating the Province of Southern Leyte. This bill became Republic Act No. 2227 and was signed into law by President Carlos P. Garcia in 1959.^[4] In 1961, he became the first representative of Southern Leyte's at-large district.

He became an Assemblyman from 1984 to 1986, where he served as Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa. In 1986, he was Acting President of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan.^[5]

After the 1986 People Power Revolution, Yñiguez did not fled from the Philippines. In fact, he was the only Marcos crony who had not a case filed against him in the Sandigan Bayan^[6]

Death

He died on April 13, 2007. He was married for 66 years to Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez, who died in September 2005. Their eldest child, Gabriel, died young. They are survived by their children Rosette and Alfredo, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.