Noli de Castro

Noli de Castro
14th Vice President of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2010
President	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	Teofisto Guingona
Succeeded by	Jejomar Binay
Senator of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2004
Personal details
Born	July 6, 1949 (1949-07-06) (age 62) Pola, Oriental Mindoro
Political party	K4 (2004) Independent (2001–2004, 2004–2010)
Spouse(s)	Arlene Sinsuat
Occupation	Politician, Broadcast Journalist
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. (born July 6, 1949), better known as Noli de Castro or "Kabayan" Noli de Castro, was Vice President of the Philippines (2004–2010).

A radio and TV newsreader and commentator by profession, De Castro was elected Senator in 2001 and Vice President in 2004. He is the first independent candidate to receive the highest number of votes in a Philippine senatorial election and the first elected Vice President of the Philippines to run independently, although he campaigned in both elections under an alliance that supported the candidacy and administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

De Castro currently anchors his radio program Kabayan on DZMM and TV Patrol.

Early life and broadcasting career

Noli de Castro was born in the town of Pola, Oriental Mindoro. He graduated from the University of the East in 1971 with a degree in Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Banking and Finance from the University of the East and a doctorate degree Honoris causa from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

De Castro began his career as a broadcaster during the Marcos dictatorship, when press freedoms were suppressed. He worked as a field reporter for Johnny de Leon, a popular radio announcer at the time. He later became a radio announcer in RPN's DWWW station from 1982 to 1986.

After the ouster of Marcos, de Castro joined ABS-CBN. He got his break into television as the segment host of Good Morning, Philippines' "At your Service". He also joined dzMM, a radio station of ABS-CBN, as the anchorman of "Kabayan". It was because of the popularity of the program that he gained the nickname "Kabayan Noli".

In 1987, De Castro became host of "Magandang Gabi, Bayan" (Good Evening, Nation) and anchorman of the news and public affairs hit, "TV Patrol". In January 1999 he became overall head of production of "TV Patrol" and vice president of dzMM.

Senate

In 2001, Noli De Castro successfully ran for senator as an independent candidate, though he campaigned with the opposition. He garnered more than 16 million votes^{[citation needed]}, the highest ever for a senator in the history of Philippine politics at that time.

In his three (3) years at the Senate, VP De Castro authored 252 bills and resolutions, 140 of which he principally authored. He authored the following significant laws: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Senior Citizens Act, Balikbayan Law, Quarantine Act and Newborn Screening Test Act.^[1]

Among the most significant legislations he authored and principally sponsored is the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2002 or RA 9257, which honors senior citizens for their special role in society and to continuously make them productive members of the community.^[1] Said law expanded the benefits and advantages of senior citizens without qualifying whether or not they earn less than P60, 000, which was a prerequisite under the old law. Further, said law ensured for our Senior Citizens the following: availment of employment rights and training programs for those who have reached the compulsory retirement age under existing laws but are still willing and able to continue with their employment; unconstrained access to formal and non-formal education; establishment of a National Health Program for Senior Citizens; setting up of residential care or group home for the aged in every province; recognition of Civil and Political Rights of the Senior Citizens and protection against violation of the same; granting of additional benefits and privileges in the form of discounts, tax exemptions, free medical and dental services; and protection against discrimination.^[1]

Realizing the importance of speedy resolution of disputes before contesting parties go to court, VP de Castro filed the Alternative Dispute Resolution (RA 9285) in 2000.^[1] RA 9285 sought to relieve the judicial courts of numerous disputes, thus unclogging our court dockets. De Castro had in mind the poor section of our society – those that cannot afford a long and costly trial and thus are usually desperate in their quest for justice.^[1]

He explained:

“

Kadalasan, ang mga mayayaman lamang ang nakakatamo ng katarungan dahil sila lang ang may kakayahang tustusan ang mahaba at magastos na paglilitis ng kaso. Mabuting matulungan ang mahihirap bago umabot sa korte ang kaso,[1]

”

Translated to English:

“

Typically, only rich people can gain justice because they have the ability to support the long and expensive case trial. So, it's better to help the poor before the case reaches the Court.

”

He also authored the Balikbayan Law in 2002 to grant our modern day heroes an additional tax-exempt shopping privilege on purchases of livelihood tools so they can invest their earnings in small and medium scale businesses. The law also provides skills training for the balikbayan and his or her family members to enable them to become economically self-reliant upon their return.^[1]

Deeply concerned with the importance of health, he also crafted the Newborn Screening Test Act of 2001 and the Quarantine Act.^[1] VP De Castro authored the Newborn Screening Test Act to test infants for five potentially devastating and fatal metabolic disorders, namely, congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), galactosemia (GAL), phenylketonuria (PKU) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD). This is because any infant could look normal and healthy at first glance; however, detailed screening is necessary to detect early symptoms of the disorders that could result to retardation, in the extreme case death. This law likewise integrates newborn screening into the government’s existing health care delivery system to improve social justice and health awareness, without the people having to pay a cent for such test. On another note, the Quarantine Act seeks to build a strong defense against the killer pneumonia and other similar contagious diseases.^[1] He proposed the establishment of Quarantine system and broadening of the authority of quarantine officers while safeguarding the constitutional rights of the person detained.^[1]

Vice-Presidency

Further information: Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Noli de Castro take the oath office as vice-president.

In the 2004 Philippine election, De Castro ran for vice president. He won by a narrow margin over Senator Loren Legarda but an electoral protest was filed by the latter. The Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed the said protest.^[2][3] He was appointed by President Arroyo as secretary for housing and urban development having been appointed as Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Council (HUDCC). As HUDCC Chair, Vice President De Castro also serves as ex officio Chairman of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or Pag-IBIG Fund), the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), the National Housing Authority (NHA), the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) as well as ex officio Vice Chairman of the Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC). He has also been designated as concurrent Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers, as Alternate Chairman of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Head of the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment, Price Monitoring Czar and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development of the MIMAROPA Region (composed of the provinces of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).

Bigamy and abandonment case

In August 2007, charges of bigamy, falsification of public documents, perjury were filed against De Castro and his wife Arlene Sinsuat de Castro by Arlene's sons from previous marriage. The sons Jhoveenel Ombus, 34, and Arjurie Omar Sinsuat Olor accused Arlene Sinsuat de Castro of abandoning them at Calamba, Laguna in 1979, and of having failed to acknowledge that they were her sons. The brothers alleged that the De Castros were married on July 16, 1991, although Arlene’s alleged previous marriage on Nov. 17, 1971 to Juanito Olor, their father, had not been annulled.^[4] The case was dismissed for lack of probable cause.^[5]

2010 presidential election

De Castro has consistently been a front-runner for the 2010 presidential elections. Being the Vice President, he is popular among voters to replace outgoing president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.^[6] However, he did not show up during the deadline of filing of Certificate of Candidacy last December 1. On the latest interview conducted by Karen Davila, he announced his retirement from politics and intention to get back to his old job as a broadcast journalist.

Post Vice-Presidency and returning career

Leaving office on June 30, 2010, De Castro continued anchoring his Saturday morning commentary show "Para Sa'Yo Bayan" (For you, Nation) until July 10, 2010. Two days later, on July 12, 2010, he made his full-time comeback on radio when his morning radio program, "Kabayan" was relaunched. He was reinstated as its newsreader and commentator of such show. The program is aired over AM radio station DZMM and simulcast over its television counterpart, DZMM TeleRadyo.

On November 3, 2010, ABS-CBN announced his return together with Korina Sanchez as weeknight anchors of TV Patrol. They joined Ted Failon on November 8, 2010.

On January 10, 2011, he joined Ted Failon as the weekday anchor of "Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete" (Radio Patrol News: Seven O'Clock). The said newscast airs from DZMM nationwide via DYAB (Cebu) and DXAB (Davao) and worldwide via The Filipino Channel. He and Failon are also co-anchors of Kabayan, which continues for about 30 minutes after the newscast.

De Castro made a special guest appearance at the 6th anniversary special of ABS-CBN's child-oriented sketch comedy show Goin' Bulilit aired on February 6, 2011.

On September 25, 2011 episode of Gandang Gabi, Vice!, de Castro made an appearance as Vice Ganda's guest for interview & sampling of TV Patrol.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Office of the Vice-President – Noli L. De Castro. Ovp.site50.net. Retrieved on 2011-09-27.
2. ^ Abs-Cbn Interactive, PET junks Loren's VP electoral protest^{[dead link]}
3. ^ supremecourt.gov.ph/news, PET Junks Legarda’s Poll Protest against VP De Castro
4. ^ VP, wife face bigamy, falsification of documents raps. Inquirer.net. 08/18/2007
5. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Bigamy case vs VP Noli de Castro, wife dismissed. Gmanews.tv. Retrieved on 2011-09-27.
6. ^ Survey: De Castro top choice for 2010. Newsinfo.inquirer.net (2009-01-13). Retrieved on 2011-09-27.

External links

• Office of the Vice President of the Philippines
• www.supremecourt.gov.ph, gmanews.tv/video, P.E.T. Case No. 003, Legarda vs. De Castro

Political offices
Preceded by Teofisto Guingona	Vice President of the Philippines June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2010	Succeeded by Jejomar Binay

Persondata
Name	De Castro, Noli
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 6, 1949
Place of birth	Pola, Oriental Mindoro
Date of death
Place of death