Franklin M. Drilon was formerly Senate President and the third highest ranking official of the country.

Senator Franklin M. Drilon’s humble beginnings began in Molo, Iloilo with his early education in the public school system where he graduated from the Baluarte Elementary School in 1957 and High School at UP Iloilo College in 1961.  He finished his Bachelor of Arts in 1965 at the University of the Philippines in Diliman then went on to pursue his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1969.  On the same year he took the bar and passed with flying colors—third place.

He joined the Sycip, Salazar, Luna, Manalo and Feliciano Law Offices immediately after passing the bar.  In 1974, he started his career with one of the premiere law firms of the country, Angara, Abello, Concepcion, Regala and Cruz Law Offices, where he was Senior Associate and was eventually elected as its Managing Partner in 1986.

The significant year of 1986 where we gained back our democracy saw Senator Franklin M. Drilon start his career in government.  He was appointed Deputy Minister for Industrial Relations of the then-Ministry of Labor from 1986 to 1987.  Thereafter, he assumed the post of Secretary of Labor until January 1990. His expertise in industrial relations and his past achievements in the private sector and as Labor Secretary became a big plus when he was appointed Secretary of Justice in 1990 and subsequently, Executive Secretary of the Cabinet of President Corazon C. Aquino in 1991.

In July 1992, he was again appointed as Secretary of Justice. During his tenure, he had instituted a monitoring system in the Justice Department where he effectively monitored the over 250,000 cases filed in various Prosecution Offices all over the country.

Senator Franklin M. Drilon’s exemplary career in government earned him the distinction of having been appointed to several Cabinet posts under two Administrations.  His previous government positions also included assuming positions of leadership in nineteen (19) other government agencies and institutions.

The dynamism of   Senator Franklin M. Drilon continues as he contributes this time to the Legislature his well-honed skills from both the Judiciary and the Executive Department as well as the private sector.  He was Chairman and Member of various Senate Committees and Senate Majority Leader (1988 – 2000).

He is married to Mila Serrano Genuino.  He had two children, Eliza and Patrick, with his first wife, the late Atty. Violeta Calvo Drilon.