Chel Diokno

Chel Diokno
Diokno in 2022
Member-elect of the Philippine House of Representatives for Akbayan
Assuming office
June 30, 2025
SucceedingNone
Legal and academic roles held
Dean of the De La Salle University College of Law
In office
2009–2019
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byGil de los Reyes
Chairman of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation
Assumed office
August 30, 2022
Preceded byWigberto Tañada
Chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group
Assumed office
2003
Personal details
Born
Jose Manuel Tadeo Icasiano Diokno

(1961-02-23) February 23, 1961
Pasay, Rizal, Philippines
Political partyAkbayan (2024–present)
Other political
affiliations
SpouseDivina Aromin
Relations
Children6, including Pepe
Parent(s)Carmen Diokno (mother)
Jose W. Diokno (father)
ResidenceSan Juan, Metro Manila
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman (BA)
Northern Illinois University College of Law (JD)
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • educator
  • academic administrator
  • politician
  • radio host
ProfessionLawyer
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Jose Manuel Tadeo "Chel" Icasiano Diokno (Tagalog: [ˈdʒɔknɔ], born February 23, 1961) is a Filipino politician and lawyer who is a representative-elect for Akbayan Partylist. He is concurrently the chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group and the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation.

Diokno is the son of former Senator Jose W. Diokno. He studied law at the University of the Philippines College of Law and Northern Illinois University in the United States, graduating in 1986 and passing the Philippine Bar Examinations in 1988. For much of his legal career, Diokno has been affiliated with the Free Legal Assistance Group, a nationwide organization of human rights lawyers. He became its chairman in 2003. In 2009, he founded the Tañada-Diokno School of Law as the De La Salle University College of Law and served as its inaugural dean until 2019. In 2022, he became the chairman of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation.

Diokno unsuccessfully sought election to the Senate of the Philippines twice, running in 2019 under Otso Diretso and 2022 under Team Robredo–Pangilinan. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2025 as the first nominee of Akbayan, which won three seats in an upset victory.