Francis Tolentino
Francis Tolentino | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| Assumed office May 20, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Joel Villanueva |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2019 | |
| Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee | |
| In office July 25, 2022 – December 19, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Gordon |
| Succeeded by | Pia Cayetano |
| Chair of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee | |
| In office July 25, 2022 – May 20, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Gordon |
| Succeeded by | Sonny Angara |
| Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee | |
| In office July 22, 2019 – June 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Sonny Angara |
| Succeeded by | JV Ejercito |
| Chair of the Senate Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement Committee | |
| In office July 22, 2019 – June 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | JV Ejercito |
| Succeeded by | JV Ejercito |
| Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs | |
| In office July 11, 2017 – October 17, 2018 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Ronald Llamas |
| Succeeded by | Jacinto Paras |
| 6th Chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority | |
| In office July 27, 2010 – October 7, 2015 | |
| President | Benigno Aquino III |
| Preceded by | Oscar Inocentes |
| Succeeded by | Emerson Carlos |
| Mayor of Tagaytay | |
| In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Erni |
| Succeeded by | Abraham Tolentino |
| In office 1986–1987 Officer-in-charge | |
| Appointed by | Corazon Aquino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Francis Ng Tolentino[1] January 3, 1960 Guinobatan, Albay, Philippines |
| Political party | PFP (2024–present) |
| Other political affiliations | PDP (2016–2024) Independent (before 2016) |
| Relations | Abraham Tolentino (brother) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University (BA, LL.B) National Defense College of the Philippines University of Michigan (LL.M) University of London (LL.M) Columbia University (LL.M) |
| Occupation | Politician, environmentalist |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | Official website |
| Nickname | Tol |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Philippines |
| Branch/service | Philippine Army |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
Francis Ng Tolentino (Tagalog pronunciation: [nɐŋ tolɛnˈtino], born January 2, 1960) is a Filipino politician and lawyer. He has served as a Senator since 2019.
He was known for the Senate Bill No. 2492 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act concerning the South China Sea dispute.[2] This law was objected by China, deeming it "illegal" in terms of international jurisdiction and against China's sovereignty in the South China Sea.[3]
Career
[edit]Tolentino served as the Mayor of Tagaytay from 1995 to 2004 and Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from 2010 to 2015. For the 19th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, he is currently the Chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He is the Senate Representative in the Judicial and Bar Council and is also one of the Senate Representatives in the Commission on Appointments. During the 18th Congress, Tolentino chaired the Senate Committee on Local Government and the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement. Tolentino established the Philippine Legal Justice Center (PLJC) in Manila, providing free legal services to indigent litigants and tribal communities.
Personal life
[edit]Tolentino was born in Albay, and grew up in Tagaytay, where he lives.[4] He is the first son of Atty. Isaac O. Tolentino, who was the longest-serving mayor of Tagaytay City.[citation needed]
He is currently the President of the Samahan ng Kickboxing ng Pilipinas, the national governing body for the sport of kickboxing in the Philippines.
Education
[edit]
Tolentino had his primary education in Lourdes School of Mandaluyong. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Bachelor of Laws degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Ateneo de Manila University Law School. He is a member of the Aquila Legis, a fraternity exclusively based at the Ateneo de Manila School of Law.
Tolentino obtained three Master of Laws degrees, one from the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor (USA) where he concentrated on constitutional law, and another from the University of London in England specializing in public international law where he graduated Second Honors (with merit) with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne giving him the award. He obtained his third (3rd) Master of Laws degree (LLM) from the Ivy League Columbia Law School (New York City), where he displayed "superior academic achievement".
He passed the New York State Bar Exams as well as the Philippine Bar Exams in 1984 where he obtained a general average of 86.25%.[4][5]
He graduated Master on National Security Administration at the National Defense College of the Philippines where he ranked 6th out of 55 graduates.
Political career
[edit]Mayor of Tagaytay City
[edit]Tolentino was first appointed to the post of OIC Mayor of Tagaytay from 1986 to 1987. He ran unopposed in the 1995 general election for Mayor of Tagaytay and was re-elected by his constituents for 3 consecutive terms as Mayor from 1995 to 2004.[6] As Mayor, he advocated a City Character Program, espousing values formation among his constituents.
Under his administration, he created the Tagaytay Office of Public Safety, which later became the basis of policies he put into force as chair of the MMDA. He also initialized the Character First programs which encourages governments, government leaders, civic organizations and religious organizations to band together to establish a "city" or "community" of character with character traits of a Filipino every month.
Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority
[edit]
On July 27, 2010, Tolentino was appointed the ninth chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). He is the first and only non-resident of Metro Manila to be appointed to the post.
In August 2013, Tolentino, as MMDA chairman, launched the first Metro Manila Integrated Bus Terminal known as the Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal (SWIPTT).[7]
On September 19, 2013, Tolentino signed the Metro Manila Outdoor Media Magna Carta along with various advertising groups, setting the terms for regulating outdoor advertisements in Metro Manila. Among the terms in the 15-page agreement were a 216-square-meter (2,330 sq ft) limitation on all outdoor signs and structures, with 30 percent of the space of ground level ads allotted "for landscape works or vertical gardens". Prior to the signing of the document, no limit had been placed on the size of advertisements, such that a number of billboards as big as 1,000 square meters (11,000 sq ft) had been allowed. The document provided a nine-month grace period for advertisers to be able to comply.[8]
To address the traffic situation in Metro Manila and to offer transportation alternative to the public, Tolentino relaunched the Pasig River Ferry System in April 2014, in coordination with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and the Department of Transportation and Communications.[9][10]
As chair of the MMDA, Tolentino was designated by Metro Manila Commission Executive Order No. 86-09 as chair of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival,[11] in which capacity Tolentino introduced a number of changes, including the introduction of new contest categories[12] and the removal of box office receipts from the criteria for the selection of best picture starting from the 2010 edition.[13]
In July 2020, the Court of Appeals's Justice Pablito A. Perez, Twelfth Division denied the defamation complaint filed by Tolentino against Ted Failon. The 2017 case stemmed from Failon's commentary of possible misuse of public funds when the MMDA, then headed by Tolentino, purchased second-handmotorcycles. The appellate court ordered the Cavite Regional Trial Court, Branch 18 to dismiss the criminal proceedings.[14]
Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs
[edit]In June 2017, Tolentino was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte as his political adviser from 2017 to 2018.[15] He became the former President's main troubleshooter during crises, disasters, and emergencies.
Senator
[edit]Tolentino ran for senator in the 2016 Philippine Senate election and lost, coming in 13th.[16]
Tolentino ran again for senator in the 2019 Philippine Senate election. Endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, he ran under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago and the informal Kilusang Pagbabago coalitions.[17] Tolentino successfully secured the 9th place in the 2019 elections and is serving as a Senator of the Philippines until 2025.[18]
18th Congress
[edit]During the 18th Congress, Tolentino chaired the Senate Committee on Local Government and the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement.
During his stint as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, Tolentino was a welcomed partner by the Bangsamoros in the transition of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.[19]
19th Congress
[edit].png)
Tolentino formerly served as the Chairman of the prestigious Senate Blue Ribbon Committee[20] and the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He stepped down as Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee in March 2024 because of his “deep-seated belief that public office demands fidelity to pledges made” [21] He currently sits as the Senate Representative to the Judicial and Bar Council and is also one of the Senate Representatives in the Commission on Appointments. He is the Senate Majority Floor Leader.[22]
He is currently the Vice-Chairman in the following Senate Committees: Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, Foreign Relations, National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Public Services.
Tolentino also sits as a member in the following Senate Committees: Basic Education, Cooperatives, Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Finance, Games and Amusement, Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, Local Government, Migrant Workers, Public Works, Sports, Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, and Ways and Means.
.png)
On August 5, 2024, Tolentino left the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino party over differences over the South China Sea dispute, disagreeing with the party's preference for bilateral dialogue with China, which he views as being not fully aligned with a 2016 arbitral ruling.[23]
Due to his views regarding the South China Sea dispute, he sponsored the unanimously approved Senate Bill No. 2492 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act in March 2024. The senator further stated, "As an independent nation, China cannot veto our Maritime Zones Law".[2] As a response, China summons the Philippine ambassador to express their objection. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Tolentino's Maritime Zones Act "illegally includes most of China's Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands and related maritime areas in the Philippines' maritime zones".[3]
Being informed that China summoned the Philippine ambassador, Tolentino suggested that the Philippines can also summon Chinese envoy. He said: "We should not be pressured and bullied into a corner. The mere fact that they are reacting and behaving in that manner is a clear indication that our position is right, based on the might of international law."[24]
Personal life
[edit]Tolentino has three children. His son, Michael Francis, has served as a councilor in Tagaytay since 2019.[25]
Filmography
[edit]- Because I Love You (2019) as himself
References
[edit]- ^ "Certified List of Candidates" (PDF). Commission on Elections. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ a b "China's opposition to proposed Maritime Zones Act 'futile' – Tolentino". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ a b "China summons Philippine ambassador over new maritime laws". Voice of America. 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ a b "Senator Francis N. Tolentino". Senate of the Philippines. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ "Atty. Francis N. Tolentino". Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ Santos, Alex (July 27, 2010). "Former Tagaytay Mayor is New MMDA Chief". ABS-CBNnews.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ "Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal (SWIPTT)". Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ Calleja, Niña P. (September 20, 2013). "New Billboard Pact: Giants Out, 'Green' In". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "MMDA to Resume Pasig River Ferry Service April 28". Motioncars. Inquirer.net. March 20, 2014. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ Cupin, Bea (April 28, 2014). "Pasig River Ferry System: More Stations, Android App Soon". Rappler. Archived from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "Summer Student Film Festival". 39th Metro Manila Film Festival. Archived from the original on December 28, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
- ^ Carballo, Bibsy M. (November 26, 2012). "A Close Look at MMFF's New Wave". Philstar Global. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ Valisno, Jeffrey O. (November 22, 2010). "MMDA Chief Scraps Box Office Standing when Determining Film Fest Best Picture". Agimat. Anino Design. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ Pulta, Benjamin (July 16, 2020). "CA junks Tolentino libel suit vs. Ted Failon". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Corrales, Nestor (2017-07-11). "Ex-MMDA chief Tolentino named Duterte political adviser". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
- ^ Bueza, Michael (June 8, 2016). "Senate race: Tolentino spent most, Isko Moreno got biggest contributions". rappler.com. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
- ^ Elemia, Camille (February 14, 2019). "Duterte Officially Endorses 11 Chosen Candidates for May 2019". Rappler. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
- ^ Cabico, Gaea Katreena (May 22, 2019). "Second Time's a Charm: Francis Tolentino Makes it to Senate". Philstar Global. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Office, Bangsamoro Information (2022-03-02). "Sen. Tolentino vows continuous support to BARMM". BARMM Official Website. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
- ^ Magsambol, Bonz (2024-01-22). "Pia Cayetano is first woman to lead Senate blue ribbon committee in Senate's 106-year history". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ^ "Tolentino resigns from Blue Ribbon Committee". Philippine Star. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Robin Padilla asks Tolentino to leave PDP". GMA Network. GMA network. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Bordey, Hana (5 August 2024). "Tolentino resigns from PDP due to 'differences' on WPS stand". GMA News. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Senator: PH can also summon, brief Chinese envoy on twin maritime laws". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
- ^ Go, Miriam Grace (May 20, 2022). "Political Dynasties 2022: Revillas now the largest in Cavite". Rappler. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Francis Tolentino at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- "Senator Francis N. Tolentino". Senate of the Philippines.
| Governor of Metro Manila |
| .svg) |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Manila Commission |
| |
| Metropolitan Manila Development Authority |
| |
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
- Living people
- People from Tagaytay
- Bicolano politicians
- People from Albay
- Senators of the 18th Congress of the Philippines
- Senators of the 19th Congress of the Philippines
- Chairpersons of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
- Mayors of places in Cavite
- Alumni of the University of London
- 20th-century Filipino lawyers
- 21st-century Filipino lawyers
- Ateneo de Manila University alumni
- Benigno Aquino III administration personnel
- Duterte administration personnel
- 1960 births
- PDP–Laban politicians
- Filipino politicians of Chinese descent
- Partido Federal ng Pilipinas politicians