Franklin Drilon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Franklin Drilon
Drilon in 2018
18th President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office July 22, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Preceded by	Jinggoy Estrada (acting)
Succeeded by	Aquilino Pimentel III
In office July 23, 2001 – July 24, 2006
Preceded by	Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
Succeeded by	Manny Villar
In office July 12, 2000 – November 13, 2000
Preceded by	Blas Ople
Succeeded by	Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
In office July 25, 2016 – February 27, 2017
Preceded by	Ralph Recto
Succeeded by	Ralph Recto
Senate Majority Leader
In office January 26, 1998 – July 12, 2000
Preceded by	Francisco Tatad
Succeeded by	Francisco Tatad
Senate Minority Leader
In office February 28, 2017 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Ralph Recto
Succeeded by	Koko Pimentel
Senator of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2022
In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2007
Chair of the Philippine Senate Finance Committee
In office July 26, 2010 – July 22, 2013
Preceded by	Edgardo Angara
Succeeded by	Francis Escudero
25th Executive Secretary of the Philippines
In office July 15, 1991 – June 30, 1992
President	Corazon Aquino
Preceded by	Oscar Orbos
Succeeded by	Peter Garuccho
44th and 46th Secretary of Justice
In office July 1, 1992 – February 2, 1995
President	Fidel V. Ramos
Preceded by	Silvestre Bello III
Succeeded by	Demetrio G. Demetria
In office January 4, 1990 – July 14, 1991
President	Corazon Aquino
Preceded by	Sedfrey A. Ordoñez
Succeeded by	Silvestre Bello III
Secretary of Labor and Employment
In office January 5, 1987 – January 2, 1990
President	Corazon Aquino
Preceded by	Augusto A. Sanchez
Succeeded by	Dionisio C. dela Serna
13th President of the Liberal Party
In office August 10, 2004 – November 5, 2007
Preceded by	Florencio Abad
Succeeded by	Mar Roxas
Personal details
Born	Franklin Magtunao Drilon (1945-11-28) November 28, 1945 (age 79) Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippines
Political party	Liberal (2003–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (2000–2003) LAMMP (1998–2000) Lakas (1995–1998) UNIDO (1987–1988)
Spouses	Violeta Calvo (died) Mila Serrano-Genuino
Children	Eliza Drilon Patrick Drilon
Residences	Iloilo City, Iloilo San Juan, Metro Manila
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Diliman (BA, LL.B.)
Occupation	Lawyer, Politician

Franklin Magtunao Drilon (born November 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and a former politician. He served as the Senate President three times. These terms were in 2000, from 2001 to 2006, and from 2013 to 2016.

He is the only senator who has held all four main leadership roles in the Senate. These roles include Senate President, Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader. He has been a member of the Liberal Party since 2003. He also led the party as its president, chairman, and vice-chairman.

Before his time in the Senate, he worked in the government under President Corazon Aquino. He was the Secretary of Labor and Employment, Secretary of Justice, and Executive Secretary. He also served as Secretary of Justice again for President Fidel V. Ramos.

Drilon grew up in Iloilo City and studied law at the University of the Philippines. He ranked third in the 1969 Bar Exams, which lawyers take to get their license. He worked as a private lawyer before joining the government.

Early Life and Education

Franklin Drilon was born on November 28, 1945, in Iloilo City, Iloilo. He is the oldest son of Cesar Drilon Sr. and Primitiva Magtunao. He went to Baluarte Elementary School in Molo, Iloilo City, finishing in 1957. He completed his high school education at the U.P. - Iloilo College in 1961.

He then studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman (U.P.). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1965. While at U.P., he was an editor for the student newspaper, Philippine Collegian. He also served as a councilor for the U.P. Student Council.

In 1969, he finished his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) at the University of the Philippines College of Law. He placed 3rd in the 1969 Philippine Bar Examinations. This means he scored very high on the test to become a lawyer.

Becoming a Lawyer

After passing the Bar Exams, Drilon worked as a lawyer. He joined a law firm called Sycip, Salazar, Luna, Manalo & Feliciano Law Offices in 1969. In 1974, he moved to another law firm, Angara, Abello, Concepcion, Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALaw). He became a partner there in 1975 and later a managing partner in 1986. He still works as a Senior Counsel for ACCRALaw.

Drilon also helped with the Bar Examinations in 1979 and 1984. He was a vice-president for the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP). He also held leadership roles in the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP).

His Work in Government

Drilon held many important positions in the Philippine government. He worked in different departments and agencies.

• Department of Justice
  • Secretary of Justice (1990–1991; 1992–1995)
  • Chairman of the Board of Pardons and Parole
  • Member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC)
• Executive Secretary (1991–1992)
  • Chairman of the Cabinet Cluster on Political & Security Matters
  • Member of the National Security Council (NSC)
• Department of Labor and Employment
  • Secretary of Labor and Employment (1987–1990)
  • Deputy Minister for Industrial Relations (1986–1987)
  • Chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission
  • Chairman of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
  • Chairman of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

Helping Justice as Secretary

As Secretary of Justice, Drilon played a key role in important legal cases. He helped make sure that justice was served in serious crimes. For example, he was involved in the cases of Antonio Sanchez and Claudio Teehankee Jr. These cases led to convictions for serious offenses.

Time in the Senate

In 1995, Drilon ran for a Senate seat and won. He received the fourth highest number of votes. In 1998, he joined the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (LAMMP) party. He became the Senate Majority Floor Leader that same year.

In 2000, he became the Senate President. This is a very important leadership role in the Senate. He served until November 2000. In December 2000, a process called impeachment started against President Joseph Estrada. This is when a leader is accused of wrongdoing and a trial happens. Drilon was one of the senators who voted on a key issue during this trial. President Estrada was later removed from office in January 2001.

Drilon in 2007, during his time as a Senator.

Drilon became Senate President again in July 2001. He ran for the Senate as an independent candidate in 2001 and won. He served as Senate President from 2001 to 2006.

In 2003, Drilon joined the Liberal Party. He was elected chairman of the party. He supported President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she ran for president in 2004. However, in 2005, Drilon and other Liberal Party members withdrew their support for her.

Defending the Senate

During his second term as Senate President, Drilon worked to protect the Senate's independence. He led the Senate in opposing rules that tried to limit how Congress could check the executive branch. The Supreme Court supported the Senate's position on these issues. He was seen as a strong defender of the Senate's constitutional duties.

In 2006, Senator Manny Villar took over as Senate President. Drilon then became the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. He worked to pass the national budget law on time in 2007.

Senator Drilon speaking in Zamboanga City.

Drilon was re-elected to the Senate in 2010. He was recognized for his 15 years of service in the Senate (1995–2010). He served as Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. He helped pass the national budget laws for 2011, 2012, and 2013.

He also wrote a law to create a body that would oversee government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). This body helps ensure these corporations are financially stable and responsible. In 2012, he became chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. He worked to pass the Sin Tax Law, which increased taxes on cigarettes and alcohol. He called it an "anti-cancer law" because he believed it would discourage people from smoking.

In 2012, Drilon was one of the Senator-Judges during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. He voted to remove Corona from office.

In 2013, Drilon became Senate President again. He was elected after former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile resigned. Drilon is also known for sponsoring the Revised Corporation Code in 2018. This law updated rules for businesses in the Philippines. He finished his term as Senator in June 2022.

Personal Life

Franklin Drilon was married to Violeta Calvo, who was also a lawyer. They had two children, Eliza and Patrick. Violeta passed away in September 1995 from lung cancer. Two years later, Drilon married Mila Serrano-Genuino, a close family friend.

Drilon is a member of the Rotary Club in Makati. He was also a former President of a chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). Although he was born in Iloilo, he is a registered voter in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Central Philippine University gave him an honorary degree called Doctor of Humanities.

Senator Drilon praying during the reopening of the Manila Cathedral.

Images for kids

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  Drilon in 2018

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  Drilon in 2007.

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  Senator Drilon speaking in Zamboanga City.

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  Senator Drilon praying during the reopening of the Manila Cathedral.