Alberto Romulo

Template:Short description Template:Philippine name Template:Use Philippine English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Alberto "Bert" Gatmaitan Romulo (born August 7, 1933) is a Filipino politician and diplomat. He served in the Philippines in various capacities as executive secretary, finance secretary, foreign affairs secretary, and budget secretary. His most recent office is his leadership of the Department of Foreign Affairs<ref name="Medalia">Template:Cite book</ref> before and during the early period of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Early years

Romulo was born in Camiling, Tarlac from Pangasinan and Kapampangan parents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Political career

File:The Honorable Alberto Romulo (Senator of the Philippines).jpg

Romulo as a senator, photograph released by the Philippine Congress, Template:Circa

He was then elected as member of the Regular Batasang Pambansa representing Quezon City in 1984. He then joined government service as the interim Minister of the Budget of President Corazon Aquino during the transition period following the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. He was a senator from 1987 to 1998, during which time he served as Majority Leader for five years. As Majority Leader, he greatly helped then Senate President Neptali Gonzales, Sr. in running the plenary sessions of the Senate and in executing its legislative mill.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November 1989, Romulo avoided a fatal helicopter crash near Maulong, Catbalogan when an Army commander convinced him to ride another helicopter going to Catbalogan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Cabinet career

He became finance secretary in January 2001, having been appointed when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo took office and formed her own cabinet. He left this position in May 2001; Romulo was later appointed as an executive secretary.<ref name="Manila">Template:Cite news</ref> On August 18, 2004, he was appointed foreign secretary,<ref name="Manila"/> and which he would hold until February 25, 2011, under President Aquino.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He served as Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN in 2007.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Later career

In March 2017, Romulo was appointed chairman and director of the board of the Development Bank of the Philippines.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>