Michael G. Aguinaldo was appointed as Chairperson of the Commission on Audit, the Philippine Supreme Audit Institution (SAI), on 24 March 2015. He is also currently the External Auditor of the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Labour Organization of the United Nations.
Chairperson Aguinaldo is a lawyer with extensive legal, governance and administration expertise acquired from 25 years of professional work as private law practitioner, government official and professor.
As head of the Philippine SAI, Chairperson Aguinaldo leads the Commission on a seven-year Strategic Plan that centers on six Strategic Goals that will help improve various facets of the organization in order to create positive impact in governance and society; empower and enable government agencies to perform their mandates more efficiently and effectively; deliver high quality, fair and timely audits; increase stakeholder ownership and understanding; strengthen capacity and capability; and enhance support infrastructure.
Prior to his appointment to the Commission, Chairperson Aguinaldo was the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Office of the President. He also headed the Investigation and Adjudication Office (formerly the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission) and oversaw the implementation of integrity initiatives consistent with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Chairperson Aguinaldo was a partner and member of the Executive Committee of the Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles law firm. Having been with the law firm for 17 years, Chairperson Aguinaldo acquired extensive expertise handling special projects, particularly in infrastructure, telecommunications and energy sectors. He also worked at the De Borja Medialdea Ata Bello Guevara and Serapio law office and is a faculty member of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law.
Chairperson Aguinaldo obtained his juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1992. He also holds a Masters Degree with special concentration in International Economic Law from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1997. He placed 7th in the 1992 Philippine Bar Examinations.