Atty. Leonito Bacalando, Jr., an alumnus of Naval Institute of Technology (NIT) - now Biliran Province State University - is making history abroad after being appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Federated States of Micronesia.

In a resolution signed on September 25 this year, the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia confirmed the appointment of Atty. Bacalando. 

"Be it resolved by the Twenty-Third Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, Fifth Regular Session, 2024, that Congress hereby confirms the nomination of Mr. Leonito M. Bacalando Jr., Esq. to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Justice of the Federated States of Micronesia," the Congressional Resolution No. 23-214 stated.

In an interview with GMA Integrated News, Atty. Bacalando shared that he feels good about the appointment because it “sends a very good message to the world in terms of what Filipinos can do.” 

“I'm proud of my family, I’m proud of the community that I represent in the Philippines, and proud of the community where I belong now as my second home,” Atty. Bacalando spoke to GMA Integrated News.

A native of Naval, Biliran, Atty. Bacalando is the first Filipino to be appointed as the head of the justice department in Micronesia. He first worked in the Attorney General’s Office of Micronesia and later served as Chief of Law and Assistant Attorney General.

The DOJ secretary graduated in NIT Laboratory High School (LHS) as the class salutatorian in 1993.

Dr. Josephine M. Casas, DepEd Biliran Education Program Supervisor of the Schools Governance Operations Division, who was also Atty. Bacalando’s high school friend and classmate, described him as a diligent and quiet student who always made a strong impression during class recitations.

“Leonito was our class salutatorian and he was really smart and a good leader,” Dr. Casas said. “In fact he was our CAT [Citizen Army Training ] Core Commander.”

Atty. Bacalando, a son of both tailor shop owners, finished his law degree at the University of San Carlos in Cebu.

Meanwhile, University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. expressed pride in Atty. Bacalando’s recent appointment noting that it is a proof that the BiPSUnistas are now making significance even in national governance abroad.

“We are so proud of Secretary Bacalando’s appointment in the Micronesian government,” the university president said.

Notably, Atty. Bacalando reached out to Dr. Cañezo last year to commend the university’s developments through the years.

Micronesia, a sovereign country in the western Pacific Ocean, comprises four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae.