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
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–NUCD (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 well-known Filipino lawyer and former politician. He holds the record for the longest time served in the Senate of the Philippines, serving four terms from 1995 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2022.

He has been the Senate President three times: in 2000, from 2001 to 2006, and from 2013 to 2016. He is the only senator to have held all four top leadership roles in the Senate. These roles include Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader.

Drilon has been a member of the Liberal Party since 2003. He also served as Secretary of Labor and Employment, Secretary of Justice, and Executive Secretary under President Corazon Aquino. He became Secretary of Justice again during President Fidel V. Ramos's time.

Born and raised in Iloilo City, Drilon studied law at the University of the Philippines. He passed the 1969 Bar Exams with a high score and 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 finished elementary school in 1957 and secondary school in 1961 at the U.P. - Iloilo College.

He then attended the University of the Philippines Diliman (U.P.). In 1965, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. 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 completed his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) at the University of the Philippines College of Law. He placed third in the 1969 Philippine Bar Examinations.

After law school, he worked as a lawyer for different firms. He became a partner at ACCRALaw in 1975 and later a managing partner. He also helped prepare the Bar Examinations in 1979 and 1984.

Public Service and Political Career

Drilon has held many important positions in the Philippine government:

Cabinet Roles Under President Aquino

• Secretary of Labor and Employment (1987–1990): He worked on issues related to workers' rights and employment.
• Secretary of Justice (1990–1991): He was in charge of the justice system.
• Executive Secretary (1991–1992): This role is like a chief of staff to the President.

As Justice Secretary, Drilon played a key role in prosecuting individuals involved in serious crimes. This included cases that led to convictions, showing his commitment to justice.

Senate Leadership and Key Laws

Drilon ran for senator in 1995 and won, getting the fourth-highest number of votes. In 1998, he became the Senate Majority Leader.

He became Senate President in July 2000. In October 2000, he spoke out about a major scandal involving then-President Joseph Estrada. He was later removed from his position, but he played a crucial role during the impeachment process against President Estrada.

During the second EDSA People Power Revolution in January 2001, Drilon was a strong voice for opening important evidence. This event led to President Estrada's removal from office.

Drilon in 2007.

In July 2001, Drilon became Senate President again. He joined the Liberal Party in 2003 and became its chairman.

He initially supported President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. However, in 2005, he and other Liberal Party members withdrew their support and asked for her resignation. Drilon became a vocal critic of certain government projects, like the NorthRail project.

During his second term as Senate President, Drilon worked to ensure the Senate's independence. He led the Senate in opposing rules that limited Cabinet members from attending congressional hearings. He also opposed a declaration of national emergency that restricted freedoms. The Supreme Court supported the Senate's position on these issues.

Drilon also led the Senate in opposing efforts to change the Constitution that would abolish the Senate. In 2006, he was succeeded as Senate President by Senator Manny Villar.

He was re-elected to the Senate in 2010. He served as Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. He helped ensure that national budget laws were passed on time. He also authored a law to oversee government-owned corporations, making them more responsible with money.

Senator Drilon at a speaking engagement in Zamboanga City.

In 2012, Drilon became the chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. He strongly supported the "Sin Tax Law," which increased taxes on cigarettes and alcohol. He called it an "anti-cancer law," hoping it would discourage people from smoking.

During the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012, Drilon served as one of the Senator-Judges. He voted for Corona's removal from office.

In 2013, Drilon was again elected Senate President. He is also known as the "father of corporate lawyers" in the Philippines. This is because he sponsored and helped write the Revised Corporation Code in 2018. This law updated rules for how companies operate in the country.

Personal Life

Senator Drilon praying during the reopening of the Manila Cathedral

Franklin Drilon was first married to Violeta Calvo, who was also a lawyer. They had two children, Eliza and Patrick. Sadly, Violeta passed away in 1995 due to lung cancer.

Two years later, Drilon married Mila Serrano-Genuino, a close family friend who was also a widow. Former Presidents Aquino and Ramos were among their wedding sponsors.

Drilon is a member of the Rotary Club. 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 awarded him an honorary degree, Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa).