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.
NOLI DE CASTRO has, in the past few years, portrayed himself as every corrupt government officials’ nemesis, the defender of the poor and the oppressed and the hope of the exploited and the helpless. Every morning, De Castro is heard over radio DZMM fearlessly lambasting corrupt police officials, taking to task lazy and inefficient government functionaries and exposing exploitative and oppressive private individuals and Big Business. His exposes continue on ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation’s primetime television news, TV PATROL and the once-a-week news magazine program, MAGANDANG GABI, BAYAN. In the process, De Castro has managed to cultivate an image of “MR. CLEAN.” Indeed, he has become everybody’s KABAYAN.
Awards
- Diploma
- Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) – Central Luzon State University, April 14, 2005, Science City, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
THOUGH many of his townmates in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, remember Sen. Manuel “Noli” de Castro with fondness and admiration, his critics scoff at him as nothing more than a bundle of discrepancies.
As the May 10 election draws nearer, allegations have been made more stridently in the media against the man the opinion surveys consistently say is most likely to win the vice-presidential race.
Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: Although he’s a good man, I won’t vote for Noli de Castro as the next president. He is not an intellectual and will not make an efficient leader.
Edward Perdido, Ilocos Norte: Yes, I’m very convinced that he’ll be a good president since he is doing his appointed job with results. I think it’s enough basis and training for him to be the president.
THE SUSPENSION order against Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and other city officials was condemned “in the strongest terms” and branded as “illegal” by the opposition on Tuesday as allies of the embattled local executive rushed to his side at the Makati City Hall where he has holed out.
The DILG served the 60-day suspension order against Binay, Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado and 16 councilors earlier in the day over charges they kept so-called “ghost employees.”
Binay has denied the accusation.
Former president Corazon Aquino, a close friend of Binay, went to the Makati City Hall to show her support for the mayor and urged everyone to “pray for justice.”
