Former Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Ismael Khan, Jr. Supreme Court/ Khan family/ handout photo

MANILA -- Former Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Ismael Khan, Jr. passed away at the age of 89 on November 10, 2024, the Supreme Court announced.

In a Facebook post, the court mourned the passing of Khan as it pays tribute to the high tribunal’s first-ever chief of the Public Information Office.

Khan is survived by his wife Cholly; children Rachel, Rafael, Regina, and Rebecca; and grandchildren Lucas and Hadrien.

The court noted that under then Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., the PIO was created to bring the court closer to the people by disseminating news about its decisions and provide the public with judicial information in a manner that the general public can easily understand.

Atty. Khan served as Assistant Court Administrator and PIO chief from July 1, 1999 to January 7, 2007 under three Chief Justices—Davide, Jr., Artemio Panganiban, Jr., and Reynato Puno.

Before serving in government, Khan was previously engaged in private practice and was a recognized authority on labor law and legal ethics.

Khan graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law and placed 6th in the 1959 Bar Examinations

He was also a member of the New York State Bar and an author whose works had been published in law journals, national newspapers and several books including Everybody’s Dictionary of Philippine Law.