Roberto Romulo, ex-DFA chief, 83

MANILA, Philippines — Former foreign affairs secretary Roberto “Bobby” Romulo passed away on Sunday, the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation announced yesterday.

Romulo was born in Manila on Dec. 9, 1938 to Carlos P. Romulo and Virginia Llamas-Romulo.

His father served as president of the United Nations General Assembly from 1949 to 1950 before becoming secretary of foreign affairs.

The younger Romulo completed his primary, secondary and college education in the United States. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University, he pursued his studies at the Ateneo de Manila College of Law, which granted him a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1964.

He began his professional career with IBM Corp. in New York City in 1965. During his career at IBM, he held various marketing and management positions in New York, Thailand (managing director) and the Philippines (president and general manager).

In June 1989, Romulo joined government service when he was appointed by then president Corazon Aquino as Philippine ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the Commission of the European Communities.

In July 1992, then president Fidel Ramos appointed Romulo as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

As a diplomat, Romulo has been decorated by the governments of Belgium, Thailand, Spain, Chile, France and the Philippines.

He resigned in April 1995 over the Philippines’ handling of Singapore’s decision to hang Filipina maid Flor Contemplacion after she pleaded guilty to the murder of another Filipina maid Delia Maga and a four-year-old Singaporean boy in Maga’s care.

Romulo then rejoined the private sector. He served as chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telphone Co. and vice chairman of San Miguel International from 1995 to 1998.

He was also chairman of the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development and Zuellig Family Foundation. He was also a columnist of The STAR.

In July last year, Romulo sent out an urgent appeal to his fellow members in the business community, an appeal that has gone viral and was even translated to Tagalog and Cebuano.

He wrote:

Dear Friends:

This letter is about the sad plight of our country under the Presidency of Duterte which has been characterized by incompetence, brutality, corruption, incivility, abuse of power and dishonesty.

In a span of five years, (Duterte) has reversed the gains that the Aquino presidency has bequeathed him – a robust economy, a healthy balance sheet, shrinking poverty levels, the confidence of foreign investors, international credit rating agencies and corruption ranking institutions and the respect of other countries.

He has squandered the weight of global public opinion in our favor following the ruling of the UN arbitration court invalidating China’s claim on the South China Sea by meekly standing by while she continues encroaching on our territory and denying our fishermen access to traditional fishing grounds.

His brutal implementation of his anti-drug war has caused the lives of thousands with little success to show for it.

His incompetent management of the pandemic resulted in unnecessary deaths and impoverished the poor even more.

The simplicity, dignity, moral values and respect for democratic ideals that the under-appreciated Noynoy Aquino brought stands in stark contrast to Duterte.

Do we really want six more years of this dark age in our history? Six more years of Harry Roque and Jose Calida?

The next election will be fought in cyberspace – be it the social media trolls or even outright digital shenanigans by the side that has the means to do so or is friendly with those who have. Truth is the counter weapon of choice against those who will bend it to change the narrative.

I strongly suggest that you highlight Aquino legacies to your family, friends and acquaintances. If possible, provide moral and financial support to those who are in social media. It is my understanding that there are trolls on our side but regrettably weak in comparison to Duterte trolls.

Do not put priority on the ‘winnability’ of a candidate but rather on someone who will bring back competence, dignity, civility and true love of country and her people. Together we can make that candidate winnable. But do not wait for that individual to emerge. Our primary objective now is to show our countrymen that Duterte and his anointed are unacceptable.

At the age of 82, I assure you I have no personal agenda, political or otherwise. In truth, it is my fervent prayer for the return of democracy and its institutions, which the incumbent has trampled.

Thank you for the messages and prayers. It is my hope that Divine intervention will assist me in my medical challenge even as I devoutly pray that HE will bring enlightenment to our citizenry that will lead to the political demise of the incumbent President and his allies.