Noli de Castro
Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. (born July 6, 1949), better known as Noli de Castro or “Kabayan”, is a politician and former broadcast journalist in the Philippines. De Castro was elected Senator in 2001 and was elected as Vice President of the Philippines in 2004. He is also the current secretary for housing and urban development. He is the first independent Senatorial topnotcher and the first elected independent Vice-President.
On January, 2008, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) directory officially listed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s personal advisers and assistants (undersecretaries, directors and assistant secretaries) in the total of 54. These exclude those under the offices of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and their bureaus and agencies attached to the Office of the President. Vice President Noli de Castro’s office pays only 3 officials: a chief of staff, an assistant chief of staff and a director for administration and finance.
Biography
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.
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” 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.
Political career
In 2001, De Castro successfully ran for senator as an independent candidate, though he campaigned with the opposition. He garnered more than 16 million votes, the highest ever for a senator in the history of Philippine politics at that time.
As a senator, De Castro authored Senate Bill No. 2029 or the “Local Government Transparency Act” which aimed to end corruption through transparency measures in the local government units.
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.
Controversies
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. The case was dismissed for lack of probable cause. Read More..
Rumors and gossips on Noli de Castro’s allegedly vile doings
- His being allegedly the protector of an illegal gambling lord whose operations cover the larger part of the industry in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.
- His allegedly having a team of Bureau of Customs men who, under his direction, can protect and advance the success of smugglers who bring in complete knockdown vehicles.
- His allegedly owning large tracts of land and businesses, amassed through extortion, and maintaining these as pleasurable and profitable undertakings without first obtaining proper permits and without paying proper license fees and taxes.
- His alleged violation of environmental laws because he has his personal zoo of pets, mostly endangered animals.
- His being an extortionist who has enriched himself using his widely watched and respected ABS-CBN Magandang Gabi, Bayan TV news and feature magazine program. read more..
PET Case No. 003, Legarda v. De Castro
Loren Legarda filed an electoral protest before the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. In a PowerPoint presentation on the alleged electoral fraud case filed by Legarda against Noli de Castro, who won the vice-presidency against her in Philippine general election, 2004
Legarda and her principal witness, Segundo Tabayoyong, showed the Kapihan sa Manila forum how the cheating was done. It was a simpler and new way of cheating, used for the first time in the elections of 2004. They alleged that instead of changing the ballots at the precincts — as was done in the past, which is difficult and labor-intensive — the cheating was done on the election return (ER), the summary of the votes in the precincts.
THE Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, later dismissed and terminated the election protest filed by Sen. Loren Legarda against Vice President Noli de Castro for failure to sufficiently prove her claim of fraud.
In a 20-page resolution penned by Senior Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing, the tribunal dismissed for lack of legal and factual basis the first aspect of Legarda’s protest involving the correction of errors of the certificates of canvass and election returns. Read More…
2005 Arroyo wiretapping scandal
In June 2005, President Gloria Arroyo’s popularity was rocked by allegations of receiving payments from illegal gambling (juetengate) and by wiretapped conversations that allegedly recorded her involvement in fixing the presidential elections with an elections official (Gloriagate). There were calls for Arroyo to resign, and for De Castro to succeed. However, conventional wisdom was that De Castro was not supported by the elites, and seen as an intellectual lightweight, given his TV anchorman roots. Arroyo on the other hand, is an educated economist and savvy daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal. Read More..
The De Castro-Soliman Issue
Issues of political patronage immediately began to swirl around the president when rumors that VP-elect Noli de Castro would be taking over as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, replacing incumbent Secretary Dinky Soliman. Soliman, an ardent supporter of President Arroyo during the campaign in the urban poor areas, announced in a tearful press conference that she felt betrayed. Several weeks later, De Castro formally said he would not accept the DSWD post. Read More..
Almost the President
AS the political storm brought about by allegations of massive corruption continues to slam President Arroyo, Vice President Noli de Castro stays by her side to provide her the option of a graceful exit by resignation, an adviser to De Castro told a member of the opposition.
The source said the expectation of De Castro, as relayed by his advisers who have started talking with different opposition groups like the United Opposition, Makati Business Club, and the Black and White Movement, the end of the Arroyo presidency is a matter of time and he (De Castro) expects to take over as the Constitution mandates.
“De Castro expects the presidency to fall into his lap like manna from heaven,” the source said expressing the frustration of many in the opposition over De Castro’s refusal to take a position on the issues of corruption and obstruction of justice that stemmed from the exposé on the alleged overpriced $329-million national broadband network deal with the Chinese firm ZTE Corp. Read More..
Political Patry
Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan – The Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K4, Coalition of Truth and Experience for Tomorrow) is the political coalition that supported president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who won the 2004 Philippine presidential elections. It is the remnant of the People Power Coalition that was formed following the ascendancy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to power. Arroyo is seeking a complete term under this coalition with Sen. Noli de Castro, an independent, yet popular, politician, as her running mate.
Highlights
Religious Activities
- Ever since his youth, De Castro has been an ardent and loyal devotee of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church, Manila. He always joins the throng of mostly male barefooted devotees every Feast Day of the Black Nazarene. He attributes his success and happiness from his first job after college until his current position as Vice-President to his devotion to the Black Nazarene. He intends to pursue his “panata” for as long as he can.
Front-Runner for the 2010 Presidential Elections
- De Castro has consistently been a front-runner for the 2010 Presidential Elections. Although he has not announced his intention to run for President in 2010, he is widely expected to run and win as President.
Other Information
Educational Background
- College : BSC-Major in Banking & Finance, University of the East-Manila, 1971
- High School : Pola Catholic High School,
- Elementary : Pola Central Elem. School
Personal Information
- Birthdate : July 6, 1949
- Name of Spouse : Arlene Sinsuat-De Castro
- Nme of Children : Manueli De Castro-Arcaya, Katherine De Castro-Cruz, Shamier De Castro
- Religion : Roman Catholic
Relatives in Government
- Emelda C. Catapang : Teacher, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, up to present (Sibling )
- Florecita Luz Catapang : Staff, Mayor’s office, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, up to present (Niece)
- Grimaldo C. Catapang : Provincial veterinarian, Oriental Mindoro, up to present, (Nephew)
- Jerwin C. Catapang : Government doctor, Department of Health, up to present, (Nephew)
- Veronidia C. Catapang : Personnel officer, Department of Interior and Local Government – NCR, up to present (Niece)
- Zacarias P. Catapang : Councilor (ABC president), Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, 1995-2004, (Brother-in-law)
- Iluminada de Castro : Administrative officer, Department of Education – NCR, up to present, (Sister-in-law)
- Evelyn C. Pasco : Teacher, Pola, Oriental Mindoro, not given, (Niece)
- Janice Anne DC. Pasco, Staff, Office of Sen. Noli De Castro, Senate of the Philippines, up to present, (Siblin)
Contact Information
- Metro Manila: 16 PV Kalaw St., Tierra Pura Homes, Tandang Sora, Quezon City
- Office of the Vice President : 7th Floor, PNB Financial Center, President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City 1300, Philippines
- Tel. (632)833-3311 or (632)833-8938
- Fax No. (632)831-6676
- E-mail Add: vp@ovp.gov.ph
Accomplishments
- Noli de Castro – Legislative Accomplishments
- De Castro, Noli – Business Interests
- Noli de Castro – Awards and Recognitions
Noli de Castro Links
- Noli de Castro on Wikipedia
- Noli de Castro on WikiPilipinas (information almost identical to wikipedia)
- Office of the Vice President (Official Website)
