Ramon Mitra, Jr.
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of the Philippines 1987–1992 |
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Palawan 1965-1971, 1987–1992 |
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| Political Party: | Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1987-2000) |
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| Born: | February 4, 1928 Puerto Princesa City, Palawan |
| Died: | March 20, 2000 (aged 72) Makati City, Metro Manila |
| Spouse: | Cecilia Aldeguer Blanco |
Ramon V. Mitra, Jr. (born February 4, 1928: Puerto Princesa, Palawan — died March 20, 2000: Makati City), was a prominent politician and a pro-democracy activist of the Philippines.
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[edit] Early life and career
Mitra was born in Puerto Princesa to Ramon P. Mitra and Purification Villarosa. He attended in a public school for elementary education and took his secondary school in San Beda College, Manila. He finished his Liberal Arts degree in Baguio City and obtained his Bachelor of Laws in San Beda.
Mitra was appointed Philippine Foreign Service Officer at Washington, D.C. and to the United Nations from 1954 to 1961, then on 1961 he was special assistant to the Office of the President. He became a senior technical assistant to the Office of the Mayor of Manila from 1962 up to 1965.
[edit] Political life
Mitra was elected congressman representing Palawan for two terms from 1965 up to 1973 and resigned during midterm and was elected senator in 1971, only to find his term cut short by Martial Law. During the imposition of martial law, Mitra was imprisoned along with other opposition figures. He gained his release in the early 1980s and was elected as assemblyman to the Regular Batasang Pambansa in 1984. After the EDSA revolution in 1986, Mitra was appointed as Agriculture Secretary. After the restoration of the House of Representatives he ran as congressman representing the second district of Palawan. He was eventually elected as Speaker of the House at its inaugural session.
In 1991, Mitra, who was also the party president of the LDP Party was selected in a party convention as the candidate for the presidency outbeating Defense secretary Fidel Ramos. Ramos bolted the party and formed his own - the Lakas Tao Party. Mitra's bid was difficult because he was branded as traditional politician and suffered many controversies including the use of the congressional printing press for his election materials. These issues brought Mitra's defeat in the 1992 elections and brought Fidel Ramos to the presidency.
In 1995, he agreed making coalition with Fidel Ramos and formed the Lakas-Laban coalition. In the 1995 elections, he ran for senator but lost. In the 1998 elections, he returned to the political spotlight as a key supporter of Joseph Estrada's successful presidential campaign. Estrada rewarded Mitra by naming him president of the state-owned Philippine National Oil Corporation.
[edit] Personal life
Monching, as what many call him was married to Cecilia Aldeguer Blanco with whom he had seven children. One of his children, Abraham Kahlil is currently serving as congressman representing the second district of Palawan.
He had a life-long involvement with cattles. He was Chairman of the Farm Management Enterprises Corporation which owned and operate farm cattles ranches and breeder of gamecocks, thoroughbred horses and cattles.
Mitra died at the Makati Medical Center from liver cancer. One of his last requests is to be buried in Palawan and to have a very simple funeral rites unlike to his predecessors in the House. A building was named after him serving as the West wing in the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.
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| Preceded by Salvador H. Escudero III |
Minister of the Department of Agriculture 1986–1987 |
Succeeded by Carlos G. Dominguez |
| Preceded by Restored |
Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines 1987–1992 |
Succeeded by Jose C. De Venecia, Jr. |
| Speakers of the Philippine House of Representatives |
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| Perez • Laurel • Romualdez • Villareal • Laurel • Villareal • Mitra • de Venecia • Villar • Fuentabella • Belmonte • de Venecia |
