Francis Tolentino

Education

Francis Tolentino had his primary education in Lourdes School of Mandaluyong. He studied rigorously and obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Bachelor of Laws degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Ateneo de Manila University Law School. He is a member of the Aquila Legis, a fraternity exclusively based at the Ateneo de Manila School of Law.

Tolentino obtained three Master of Laws degrees, one from the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor (USA) where he concentrated on constitutional law, and another from the University of London in England specializing in public international law where he graduated Second Honors (with merit) with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne giving him the award. He obtained his third (3rd) Master of Laws degree (LLM) from the Ivy League Columbia Law School (New York City), where he displayed "superior academic achievement".

He passed the New York State Bar Exams as well as the Philippine Bar Exams in 1984 where he obtained a general average of 86.25%.

Francis Tolentino graduated with a Master’s in National Security Administration at the National Defense College of the Philippines where he ranked 6th out of 55 graduates.

Political career

Mayor of Tagaytay City

Tolentino was first appointed to the post of OIC Mayor of Tagaytay from 1986 to 1987. In 1992, he ran for mayor of Tagaytay under the Lakas–NUCD, but initially lost to Partido Magdalo candidate Benjamin R. Erni. After filing an election protest in June that year, however, Tolentino was later declared the actual winner by the First Division of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on January 28, 1994 after invalid ("stray") ballots were removed, a decision which was later upheld by the COMELEC as a whole on July 25, 1994 and by the Supreme Court in April 1995. Tolentino ran unopposed in the 1995 general election for mayor of Tagaytay and was re-elected by his constituents for three more consecutive terms as mayor from 1995 to 2004. As mayor, he advocated a City Character Program, espousing values formation among his constituents.

Under his administration, he created the Tagaytay Office of Public Safety, which later became the basis of policies he put into force as chair of the MMDA. He also initialized the Character First programs which encourages governments, government leaders, civic organizations and religious organizations to band together to establish a "city" or "community" of character with character traits of a Filipino every month.

Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority

On July 27, 2010, Tolentino was appointed the ninth chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). He is the first and only non-resident of Metro Manila to be appointed to the post.

In August 2013, Tolentino, as MMDA chairman, launched the first Metro Manila Integrated Bus Terminal known as the Southwest Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal (SWIPTT).

On September 19, 2013, Tolentino signed the Metro Manila Outdoor Media Magna Carta along with various advertising groups, setting the terms for regulating outdoor advertisements in Metro Manila. Among the terms in the 15-page agreement were a 216 sqm limitation on all outdoor signs and structures, with 30 percent of the space of ground level ads allotted "for landscape works or vertical gardens". Prior to the signing of the document, no limit had been placed on the size of advertisements, such that a number of billboards as big as 1,000 sqm had been allowed. The document provided a nine-month grace period for advertisers to be able to comply.

To address the traffic situation in Metro Manila and to offer transportation alternative to the public, Tolentino relaunched the Pasig River Ferry Service in April 2014, in coordination with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and the Department of Transportation and Communications.

As chair of the MMDA, Tolentino was designated by Metro Manila Commission Executive Order No. 86-09 as chair of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival, in which capacity Tolentino introduced a number of changes, including the introduction of new contest categories and the removal of box office receipts from the criteria for the selection of best picture starting from the 2010 edition.

In July 2020, the Court of Appeals's Justice Pablito A. Perez, Twelfth Division denied the defamation complaint filed by Tolentino against Ted Failon. The 2017 case stemmed from Failon's commentary of possible misuse of public funds when the MMDA, then headed by Tolentino, purchased second-hand motorcycles. The appellate court ordered the Cavite Regional Trial Court, Branch 18 to dismiss the criminal proceedings.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs

In June 2017, Tolentino was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte as his political adviser from 2017 to 2018. He became the former President's main troubleshooter during crises, disasters, and emergencies.

Senator

Tolentino ran for senator in the 2016 Philippine Senate election and lost, coming in 13th.

Tolentino ran again for senator in the 2019 Philippine Senate election. Endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, he ran under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago and the informal Kilusang Pagbabago coalitions. Tolentino successfully secured the 9th place in the 2019 elections and served as a Senator of the Philippines until 2025.

18th Congress

During the 18th Congress, Tolentino chaired the Senate Committee on Local Government and the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement.

During his stint as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, Tolentino was a welcomed partner by the Bangsamoros in the transition of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

19th Congress

Tolentino formerly served as the chairman of the prestigious Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. He stepped down as Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee in March 2024 because of his "deep-seated belief that public office demands fidelity to pledges made." He currently sits as the Senate Representative to the Judicial and Bar Council and is also one of the Senate Representatives in the Commission on Appointments. He is the Senate Majority Floor Leader.

He is currently the vice-chairman in the following Senate committees: Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, Foreign Relations, National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and Public Services.

Tolentino also sits as a member on the following Senate Committees: Basic Education, Cooperatives, Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Finance, Games and Amusement, Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, Local Government, Migrant Workers, Public Works, Sports, Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, and Ways and Means.

On August 5, 2024, Tolentino left the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino party over differences regarding the South China Sea dispute, disagreeing with the party's preference for bilateral dialogue with China, which he believes is not fully aligned with the 2016 arbitral ruling.

Due to his views regarding the South China Sea dispute, he sponsored the unanimously approved Senate Bill No. 2492, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, in March 2024. The senator further stated, "As an independent nation, China cannot veto our Maritime Zones Law". As a response, China summons the Philippine ambassador to express their objection. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Tolentino's Maritime Zones Act "illegally includes most of China's Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) and Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) and related maritime areas in the Philippines' maritime zones".

Being informed that China summoned the Philippine ambassador, Tolentino suggested that the Philippines could also summon the Chinese envoy. He said: "We should not be pressured and bullied into a corner. The mere fact that they are reacting and behaving in that manner is a clear indication that our position is right, based on the might of international law."

Tolentino led Senate inquiries on suspected Chinese espionage in the Philippines.

He relied on his positions on the South China Sea dispute for his re-election campaign for the 2025 midterm elections. He joined President Bongbong Marcos's Senate slate, Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas. He was not successful though in his 2025 re-election bid.

In July 1, 2025, the Chinese government banned Tolentino from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. He was banned for his "egregious conduct on China-related issues". Tolentino, in response to the sanction, considered the ban a "badge of honor" which he attributed to his actions in advancing the Philippines' interests in the South China Sea dispute.

Personal life

Tolentino was born in Albay, and grew up in Tagaytay, where he lives. He is the first son of Atty. Isaac O. Tolentino, who was the longest-serving mayor of Tagaytay City.

He is currently the president of the Samahan ng Kickboxing ng Pilipinas, the national governing body for kickboxing in the Philippines.

Tolentino, although unmarried, has three children. His son, Michael Francis, has served as a councilor in Tagaytay since 2019.

Filmography

• Because I Love You (2019) as himself

References

References

1. "Certified List of Candidates". Commission on Elections.
2. Atadero, Arnold. (January 29, 1994). "Comelec proclaims new Tagaytay City mayor". Kamahalan Publishing Corporation.
3. Atadero, Arnold. (July 26, 1994). "Comelec upholds Tolentino's victory". Kamahalan Publishing Corporation..
4. Cruz, Neal H.. (June 7, 2001). "Comelec flip-flops on issues". The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc..
5. (November 9, 2024). "PH affirms maritime zones, angering China". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
6. Tolentino, Francis. "Profile of Senator Francis Tolentino".
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9. Santos, Alex. (July 27, 2010). "Former Tagaytay Mayor is New MMDA Chief". ABS-CBNnews.com.
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12. (March 20, 2014). "MMDA to Resume Pasig River Ferry Service April 28". Inquirer.net.
13. Cupin, Bea. (April 28, 2014). "Pasig River Ferry System: More Stations, Android App Soon". Rappler.
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16. Valisno, Jeffrey O.. (November 22, 2010). "MMDA Chief Scraps Box Office Standing when Determining Film Fest Best Picture". Anino Design.
17. (July 16, 2020). "CA junks Tolentino libel suit vs. Ted Failon". [[Philippine News Agency]].
18. Corrales, Nestor. (2017-07-11). "Ex-MMDA chief Tolentino named Duterte political adviser".
19. Bueza, Michael. (June 8, 2016). "Senate race: Tolentino spent most, Isko Moreno got biggest contributions".
20. Elemia, Camille. (February 14, 2019). "Duterte Officially Endorses 11 Chosen Candidates for May 2019".
21. Cabico, Gaea Katreena. (May 22, 2019). "Second Time's a Charm: Francis Tolentino Makes it to Senate". Philstar Global.
22. (2022-03-02). "Sen. Tolentino vows continuous support to BARMM".
23. Magsambol, Bonz. (2024-01-22). "Pia Cayetano is first woman to lead Senate blue ribbon committee in Senate's 106-year history".
24. "Tolentino resigns from Blue Ribbon Committee".
25. "Robin Padilla asks Tolentino to leave PDP".
26. (5 August 2024). "Tolentino resigns from PDP due to 'differences' on WPS stand". GMA News.
27. "China's opposition to proposed Maritime Zones Act 'futile' – Tolentino".
28. (2024-11-08). "China summons Philippine ambassador over new maritime laws".
29. "Senator: PH can also summon, brief Chinese envoy on twin maritime laws".
30. (12 May 2025). "Francis Tolentino loses bid for second Senate term". Rappler.
31. (2025-07-01). "Beijing sanctions South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino".
32. (2025-07-01). "China sanctions former Filipino lawmaker who defended Philippines' South China Sea claims".
33. (2025-07-01). "China sanctions former Philippine senator on maritime claims". Reuters.
34. "China's sanctions a 'badge of honor', Tolentino says". Manila Bulletin.
35. "Senator Francis N. Tolentino".
36. "Francis Tolentino".
37. Go, Miriam Grace. (May 20, 2022). "Political Dynasties 2022: Revillas now the largest in Cavite". Rappler.