SALIGAN STAFF

Hazel has been with SALIGAN for more than 2 decades. She started out as a legal staff under the Urban Poor and Women Programs of SALIGAN in 2006 and went on to become the Bicol Branch Coordinator in 2008. She served under the Bicol branch for six years until she was appointed as Executive Director in 2014. Prior to being a staff, Hazel was an intern of SALIGAN-Bicol while studying law.

Hazel was admitted to the Philippine Bar in May 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines), J.D. (University of Nueva Caceres, Naga City, Philippines), a Diploma in Governance, Democratisation and Public Policy, and a Master of Arts in Development Studies: Social Justice Perspectives Major in Human Rights (both from the International Institute of Social Studies of the Erasmus University of Rotterdam – The Hague Campus – in The Netherlands).

Hazel is a member of the NAMATI Legal Empowerment Network, the Extra-Territorial Obligations Consortium (ETOC) and the newly convened Legal Mobilization Platform (LMP). She served as the President and Board Member of the Naga City Council for Women (NCCW), and Board Member of the Naga City People’s Council (NCPC), the Naga City Local Housing Board (LHB), and the Alternative Law Groups, Inc. (ALG). She used to teach agrarian law at the University of Nueva Caceres College of Law.

Atty. Marie Hazel E. Lavitoria

Executive Director

Lani has been with SALIGAN since 2019. She started as Administrative and Finance Staff of SALIGAN-Mindanaw until her appointment as the Administrative and Finance Coordinator in January 2014. She has been in the accounting field for more than a decade, working for several corporate companies before joining SALIGAN.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the Holy Cross of Davao College.

Melanie G. Cabanig

Administrative and Finance Coordinator

Sol has been a legal staff of SALIGAN since 2018 and became the Manila branch coordinator in 2020. Prior to her stint with SALIGAN, she worked at the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Children’s Legal Bureau as an Executive Assistant and Project Officer, respectively. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City, Philippines and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is an alumna of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom – International Academy for Leadership under the Human and Civil Rights Program.

She currently represents SALIGAN in the National Capital Region – National Cluster of the Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. and in the board of trustees of the Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies and the NGOs for Fisheries Reform.

Marisol P. Victorioso

Branch Coordinator, SALIGAN-Manila

Lulu is a lawyer at SALIGAN, joining the organization in 2024. She holds a Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor of Science in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines. While in law school, Lulu interned at the UP Office of Legal Aid, handling mostly labor and criminal cases. During her undergraduate years, she worked as a communication intern at IBON Foundation, a research and advocacy based NGO.

Prior to joining SALIGAN, Lulu was a quality management expert in a BPO company and a legal counsel for a renewable energy corporation.

Atty. Luntian P. Dumlao

Lawyer, SALIGAN-Manila

JM joined SALIGAN in February 2026, shortly after her admission to the Philippine Bar.  She was an intern of SALIGAN-Manila in 2023.  JM holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics from the UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga, and a Juris Doctor from the Angeles University Foundation.

Atty. Jaymi Margot Bondoc

Lawyer, SALIGAN-Manila

JP handles SALIGAN’s administrative and financial concerns. He has been with the staff since 2017. He has worked with Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies (PHILSSA) in the past.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from the Rizal Technological University.

Jay Pee B. Bombales

Administrative/Finance Staff, SALIGAN-Manila

Dave first served SALIGAN as a legal staff in 2007 and went on to become the Bicol Branch Coordinator in 2014.

He earned his J.D. from the University of Nueva Caceres and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Ateneo de Naga University.

David A. Abogado, Jr.

Branch Coordinator, SALIGAN-Bicol

Maree joined SALIGAN in March 2026.  She was an intern of SALIGAN-Bicol from 2016-2018.  She was previously connected with the Department of Agrarian Reform.  She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Nueva Caceres, and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in July 2020.
Atty. Maree Louise Bianca Bajamunde-Importante

Lawyer, SALIGAN-Bicol

Cel has been in charge of SALIGAN Bikol’s administrative and financial matters for two decades now.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Nueva Caceres.

Maricel R. Erlano

Administrative/Finance Staff, SALIGAN-Bicol

Maya (she/her) started at SALIGAN-Manila in January 2020 and has since been engaged in work on gender equality, workers’ rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, and people’s participation in local governance. Maya joined SALIGAN-Mindanaw in 2024.

Maya earned both her Journalism degree and her Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Atty. Somayyah S. Abdullah

Branch Coordinator, SALIGAN-Mindanaw

Angela joined SALIGAN in 2023. She is a Registered Nurse and has work experience in the Legal Services Group of the Housing and Urban Development Coordination Council (now the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development) and a law office in North Cotabato. Additionally, she was an anchor for Sayri ang Balaod, a legal public affairs radio program of the UM Broadcasting Network.

Angela earned her J.D. from the University of Mindanao and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ateneo de Davao University.

Angela De Guzman

Legal Staff, SALIGAN-Mindanaw

Shan joined SALIGAN in 2025. She focuses on environmental law and empowering communities through legal education and support. Prior to joining SALIGAN, she worked with the Philippine Eagle Foundation as a Development Officer, advancing environmental advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

She holds a Juris Doctor degree from Silliman University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from the University of the Philippines Mindanao.

Shanielle Qim F. Cañeda

Lawyer, SALIGAN-Mindanaw

Jing joined SALIGAN in July 2025 as the Administrative and Finance Staff of the SALIGAN Mindanaw branch. She brings with her extensive experience from various private sector roles and an international non-governmental organization (INGO).

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Holy Cross of Davao College.

Fe Angela R. Baclado

Administrative/Finance Staff, SALIGAN-Mindanaw

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