Alberto Romulo

Who is Alberto Romulo?

Alberto Gatmaitan Rómulo is a politician in the Philippines. He served as Foreign Secretary before and during the beginning of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Rómulo was born in Camiling, Tarlac from Pangasinan parents. He was then elected as member of the Regular Batasang Pambansa representing Quezon City in 1984. He then joined government service as the Minister of the Budget of President Corazon Aquino. He was a senator from 1987 to 1998, during which time he served as Majority Leader for five years.

He became Finance Secretary in January 2001, having been appointed when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took office and formed her own cabinet. He left this position in May 2001; Romulo was later appointed as an Executive Secretary. On August 18, 2004, he was appointed Foreign Secretary, and which he would hold until February 25, 2011. He served as Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN in 2007.