Starting Point
Attourney Laisa Masuhod-Alamia graduated cum laude from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and later obtained her Law Degree from the Western Mindanao State University. She obtained a Master's Degree in National Security Administration with distinction, receiving multiple awards, including the Silver Medal for Academic Excellence and the Meritorious Thesis Award. In August 2022, she also earned a Master’s in Laws degree from Ateneo de Manila University.
She is an active member of the global Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) and sits on its Global Muslim Women’s Shura Council. This Council issues legal opinions based on Islamic law concerning significant issues affecting Muslim women, such as female genital cutting, adoption and care of orphans, women's religious leadership, and child marriage. She participated in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP), a professional exchange initiative.
She has taught at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) School of Law and has served as the university's legal counsel. She remains an active member of the Board of Trustees for the Ateneo campuses located in Davao City and Zamboanga City. Atty. Alamia has been awarded fellowships and grants from notable organisations, including the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Minority Rights Group International, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Peace Journey
Prior to the Bangsamoro transition, Atty. Masuhod-Alamia served as the executive secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for six years, the only woman to hold this role. During her tenure, she also headed the regional offices of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries as well as the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Her legal background, particularly as a human rights lawyer, greatly fortified her executive position. In 2013, she was appointed by former President Benigno Aquino III as the inaugural Chairperson of the Regional Human Rights Commission. Before this role, she was the Officer-in-Charge of the Regional Human Rights Director of the Commission on Human Rights-ARMM. She also served as a Senior Economic Development Specialist and as the Clerk of Court in the Regional Trial Court, Branch 13 in Zamboanga City.
Presently, she is a consultant for national government agencies, local governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and international organisations, addressing topics such as human rights, gender issues, women’s rights, governance, conflict resolution, humanitarian law, research, advocacy, and policy reform.
Success Stories
Before embarking on her legal career and public service, Atty. Masuhod-Alamia spent two years as an intensive care unit nurse in Saudi Arabia. She is a senior partner at Alamia Santiago & Partners (ASP) in Zamboanga City. Her expertise includes managing human rights cases, overseeing initiatives like Nisa Ul-Haqq Fi Bangsamoro (Women for Justice in the Bangsamoro), and coordinating the Bangsamoro Lawyers’ Network. Additionally, she played a key role in establishing the Kalisa Action Network (KalisaAN), which focuses on enhancing the rights and welfare of Bangsamoro women and children in accordance with the principles of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.