| Office | 19th Secretary of Foreign Affairs |
|---|---|
| President | Fidel V. Ramos |
| Term start | June 30, 1992 |
| Term end | April 30, 1995 |
| Predecessor | Raul Manglapus |
| Successor | Domingo Siazon, Jr. |
| Birth date | December 9, 1938 |
| Birth place | Manila, Philippine Commonwealth |
| Death date | January 23, 2022 (aged 83) |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Roberto "Bobby" Romulo (December 9, 1938 – January 23, 2022) was a Filipino diplomat. He was the Secretary of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1995.
Early life and education
Roberto Romulo was born on December 9, 1938, in Manila to Carlos P. Romulo and Virginia Llamas.[1]
He attended the Georgetown University of the United States where he finished his primary, secondary Georgetown Preparatory School and college education before returning to the Philippines to study at the Ateneo de Manila University's College of Law to obtain his law degree.[1][2]
Career
Diplomatic career
Romulo under the administration of President Corazon Aquino served as Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Commission of the European Communities. As a diplomat, he received various honors from Belgium, Thailand, Spain, Chile, France and the Philippines.[3]
He was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1992 by President Fidel V. Ramos.[3] As head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, he oversaw the case of Flor Contemplacion, a Filipino migrant worker in Singapore, who was sentenced to death for murder which human rights groups argued were coerced to admit to committing crime. Contemplacion's execution led to a diplomatic crisis with the city-state and Romulo's resignation as secretary on April 30, 1995.[2][4][5]
Private sector career
Romulo began his career at IBM in 1965, holding management roles in New York, Thailand, and the Philippines.[1]
After leaving government in 1995, he returned to the private sector as chairman of PLDT and vice chairman of San Miguel Corporation. Romulo later led the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation and the Zuellig Family Foundation, and contributed columns to The Philippine Star.[1]
Death
Romulo died on January 23, 2022.[6]
References
- ^ Lee-Brago, Pia (25 January 2022). "Roberto Romulo, ex-DFA chief, 83". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ Tomacruz, Sofia (25 January 2022). "Former foreign affairs secretary Roberto Romulo dies at 83". Rappler. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ Tamayo, Bernadette (24 January 2022). "Former Foreign Affairs chief Roberto Romulo dies". The Manila Times. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Fallout From Singapore Execution Widening In Philippines". Chicago Tribune. New York Times News Service. 18 April 1995. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "A short history of Cabinet secretaries who quit, axed". The Philippine Star. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Former DFA chief Bobby Romulo passes away". ABS-CBN News. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.