Franklin Drilon

The Honorable Franklin M. Drilon
Drilon in 2018
18th President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office July 22, 2013 – June 30, 2016
President	Benigno Aquino III
Preceded by	Jinggoy Estrada (Acting)
Succeeded by	Aquilino Pimentel III
In office July 23, 2001 – July 24, 2006
President	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded by	Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
Succeeded by	Manny Villar
In office July 12, 2000[1] – November 13, 2000
President	Joseph Estrada
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
45th and 47th 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 78) Iloilo City, Iloilo, Philippine Commonwealth
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Liberal (2003–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (2000–2003) LAMMP (1998–2000) Lakas–NUCD (1995–1998) UNIDO (1987–1988)
Spouse(s)	Violeta Calvo (died) Mila Serrano-Genuino
Children	Eliza Drilon Patrick Drilon
Residence(s)	Iloilo City, Iloilo San Juan, Metro Manila
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Diliman (BA, LL.B.)
Occupation	Lawyer, Politician

Franklin Magtunao Drilon (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈdɾilɔn]; born November 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and former politician.^[2] He had the longest tenure in the Senate of the Philippines (tied with Lorenzo Tañada and Tito Sotto), having served four non-consecutive terms overall: from 1995 to 2007 and 2010 to 2022. He has served thrice as president of the Senate: in 2000, from 2001 to 2006, and from 2013 to 2016.

Having also served as Senate president pro tempore, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader, he is the only senator to have held all four of the Senate's major leadership positions. A member of the Liberal Party since 2003, he has previously led the party as president, chairman, and vice-chairman.

He also served as Secretary of Labor and Employment, Secretary of Justice, and Executive Secretary in the administration of President Corazon Aquino. He became Secretary of Justice again during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos.

Drilon was born and raised in Iloilo City and studied law at the University of the Philippines. He placed third in the 1969 Bar Exams and worked as a private practice lawyer before joining the government.