Former Senator Francis Tolentino | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
I have known former senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino for many years. I got to know him when he was chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) where he initiated a lot of projects to solve the traffic in Metro Manila. Among these include the replacement of the old analog traffic system with a digital platform, the installation of high-definition cameras, and the construction of a new Metrobase command and control system that would help in monitoring traffic, flooding, accidents, and other problems that could compromise the safety of pedestrians, commuters, and vehicles.
People remember the “duck, cover, and hold” routine that became widely disseminated because of the regular earthquake drills started by the former senator in 2015. A disaster preparedness advocate, he was one of the first to respond during the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, mobilizing MMDA personnel and bringing heavy equipment for search and rescue operations in Tacloban, the hardest-hit area in Eastern Visayas. In fact, President Marcos recognized his contribution, saying that Tol was way ahead of other local government agencies in responding.
No question public service is really in the blood of Francis who comes from a family of politicians. His father Isaac was mayor of Tagaytay City from 1954 to 1980 – the longest serving mayor, if I’m not mistaken. His brother Bambol, currently the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, served as congressman of Cavite for several years, while his sister Annalyn was Malacañang’s Social Secretary during the term of President Duterte.
Like his father, Francis is also a lawyer, having obtained his Law degree at the Ateneo and his Master of Laws (three, as a matter of fact) from the University of Michigan Law School, the University of London and the Columbia Law School at Columbia University. Francis worked at a law firm in New York, having passed the New York State Bar exams, but public service beckoned so he joined the political arena, serving as mayor of Tagaytay for nine years and as senator from 2019 to 2025, serving as Senate Majority Leader and chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.
It’s a significant loss for the country that Tol didn’t make it to the Senate during the recent May elections, but his contribution to nation building and defending the sovereign rights of the Philippines is well known, in particular his authorship of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act that reaffirmed the extent of the Philippines’ maritime territories in the South China Sea, and the country’s right to resources from these areas.
The Philippine Maritime Zones law defines the maritime zones of the country for the first time – its internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf by the 1987 Constitution and international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and in line with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling.
The Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, on the other hand, establishes specific sea lanes and air routes that foreign vessels and planes must follow while transiting within the internal waters of the Philippines.
President Marcos signed the landmark bills into law last November, saying that “these signal our resolve to protect our maritime resources, preserve our rich biodiversity and ensure that our waters remain a source of life and livelihood for all Filipinos.”
” … [N]o foreign power can silence him or weaken his resolve to uphold Philippine sovereignty, “I am, and will always be, proud to be a Filipino,” Francis Tolentino patriotically proclaimed.
A Philippine Army reservist with the rank of brigadier general, Francis is undoubtedly a nationalist, exhorting fellow military reservists to safeguard the country’s sovereignty in the face of uncertainties in the region. He expressed grave concern over the discovery of massive coral harvesting activities in Rozul Reef, which is located within our exclusive economic zone, not only because they will destroy the seabed but also because they could be a prelude to reclamation activities.
He has been very vocal against troll farms and the proliferation of fake social media accounts that disseminate content aimed at spreading disinformation about the government’s foreign policy. He has also expressed concern about espionage and intelligence-gathering activities related to the country’s defense.
Surprisingly, our big neighbor to the North is using its big stick, so to speak, announcing that they have banned the former senator from visiting mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao – although I doubt it very much if Francis has any big desire to visit these places anyway.
In 2019, China barred the late Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario and former Supreme Court Associate Justice and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales from entering Hong Kong. Both Del Rosario and Morales filed a case against President Xi Jinping and other Chinese officials before the International Criminal Court for their “atrocious actions” in the South China Sea and within Philippine territory.
Foreign governments have the right to bar undesirable aliens from entering their country. In the Philippines, there are many undesirable aliens (mostly criminals) that should not have been allowed entry in the first place. But it’s unusual, to a certain extent, to sanction someone for expressing his belief and conviction in upholding his country’s sovereignty.
Not surprisingly, Tol is unfazed by the sanction and, in fact, considers it a “badge of honor” and a testament to his “unwavering commitment to protect our national interest and our people’s dignity.”
“Every Filipino, who is pro-Philippines, will not be silenced or stopped from defending our national and maritime rights,” Malacañang also stated.
Saying that no foreign power can silence him or weaken his resolve to uphold Philippine sovereignty, “I am, and will always be, proud to be a Filipino,” Francis Tolentino patriotically proclaimed.
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