Edwin Lacierda (born May 8 1962) is a Filipino lawyer, technology entrepreneur, and former government official. He served as the Presidential Spokesperson of the Philippines from 30 June 2010 to 30 June 2016 under President Benigno S. Aquino III. After his public service, Lacierda co‑founded the fintech company PayMongo and later the payments platform PayRex.
Early life and education
Lacierda was born into a Chinese‑Filipino family, the son of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother. He completed his secondary education at St. Jude Catholic School in Manila. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from De La Salle University and subsequently obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Ateneo de Manila University. He also attended the Asian Institute of Management for further studies.
Legal practice and civil‑society involvement
After being called to the bar, Lacierda practiced law privately. He was a co‑convener of the Black and White Movement, a civil‑society group advocating transparency and accountability in government. Notably, he acted as legal counsel for whistle‑blower Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada during the Senate investigation into the NBN‑ZTE controversy. Lacierda also taught constitutional law at the Far Eastern University Institute of Law and at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
Government service
Lacierda first gained national prominence as a spokesperson for Benigno Aquino III during the 2010 presidential campaign. Following Aquino’s election, he was appointed Presidential Spokesperson, a position he held for the full six‑year term of the Aquino administration. In this role he regularly briefed the media on executive policies, addressed issues of governance, human rights, and foreign relations, and clarified the government’s stance on major national events.
Technology entrepreneurship
After leaving public office, Lacierda entered the fintech sector. In 2019 he co‑founded PayMongo, a Philippine online payments platform, serving as its chief operating officer until 2021. He subsequently co‑founded PayRex, where he holds the position of chief executive officer.
Later activities
In 2025 Lacierda expanded into broadcast media, co‑hosting “The Spokes” on the Bilyonaryo News Channel alongside former Presidential Spokesperson Trixie Cruz‑Angeles. The program discusses politics, governance, and current events.
Personal details
- Date of birth: 8 May 1962 (age 64)
- Nationality: Filipino
- Known for: service as Presidential Spokesperson, co‑founding PayMongo, legal advocacy.