Francisco Tatad

Francisco "Kit" Sarmiento Tatad (born October 4, 1939) is a Filipino journalist and politician best known for having served as Minister of Public Information under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from 1969 to 1980, and for serving as a Senator of the Philippines from 1992 to 2001.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Sarmiento and the surname or paternal family name is Tatad.

The Honourable Francisco S. Tatad
Senator of the Philippines
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2001
Senate Majority Leader
In office July 12, 2000 – June 30, 2001
Preceded by	Franklin Drilon
Succeeded by	Loren Legarda
In office October 10, 1996 – January 26, 1998
Preceded by	Alberto Romulo
Succeeded by	Franklin Drilon
Minister of Public Information
In office 1969–1980
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Gregorio Cendaña
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Region V
In office June 12, 1978 – June 5, 1984
Personal details
Born	(1939-10-04) October 4, 1939 (age 85) Gigmoto, Albay, Philippine Commonwealth (now Gigmoto, Catanduanes, Philippines)
Political party	Independent (1987–1992; 2009–present)
Other political affiliations	PMP (2004–2009) Gabay Bayan (1998–2004) LDP (1995–1998) NPC (1992–1995) KBL (1978–1987) Nacionalista (until 1978)
Spouse	Fernandita "Fenny" Cantero
Relations	Shalani Soledad (niece)
Residence(s)	Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas Center for Research and Communication
Profession	Journalist, Politician

Career

Upon his appointment by President Marcos, Tatad became the youngest member of Marcos' cabinet. During his term, he announced the declaration of martial law on September 23, 1972, just hours before Marcos himself came on the air.^[1] While serving as cabinet secretary, he concurrently became a member of the Batasang Pambansa.

During his service in the Philippines Senate, he served as Majority Floor Leader from 1996 to 1998 and again from 2000 to 2001. In 2001, he was one of the 11 senators who voted against opening an envelope that had been alleged to contain incriminating evidence against then Philippine President Joseph Estrada, inciting events that led to the EDSA Revolution of 2001.^[2]

Tatad ran again for senator under the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino of actor Fernando Poe Jr. in 2004 but lost. In 2007, he resigned from the governing board of the United Opposition as a protest against the party's decision to draft Alan Peter Cayetano, Joseph Victor Ejercito and Aquilino Pimentel III as its senatorial candidates due to issues of "dynasty-building",^[3] as the three have relatives already serving in the Senate. In 2010, he ran again for senator but lost, finishing only in the 27th place.

During the hearing on the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona on January 19, 2012, Tatad had a verbal confrontation with Senator-Judge Franklin Drilon, accusing him of acting like a part of the prosecution team. Drilon allegedly challenged him to disqualify him from participating in the proceedings.^[4]