The Commission Chairman, Teofilo S. Pilando, Jr. was law clerk to a Supreme Court Justice, policy consultant to the Senate President, technical assistant to the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, trustee of the Asset Privatization Trust, and Deputy Executive Secretary in the Office of the President.

He was arbitrator for the International Court of Arbitration, consultant for World Bank and Asian Development Bank projects, and representative to international trade and treaty fora including the World Trade Organization.

He served as National President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and with Supreme Court Committees like on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education. His professional affiliation includes the American Bar Association, British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social Science, and the Chatham House.

He read economics and law, having attended the University of the Philippines, Dalhousie University, Hague Academy of International Law, and was senior member of Oxford's St. Antony's College.