Robert Zabala Barbers (January 19, 1944 – December 25, 2005) was a police officer, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government and Senator of the Philippines.
Robert Z. Barbers | |
|---|---|
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2004 | |
| 16th Secretary of the Interior and Local Government | |
| In office April 16, 1996 – February 3, 1998 | |
| President | Fidel V. Ramos |
| Preceded by | Rafael Alunan III |
| Succeeded by | Epimaco Velasco |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Surigao del Norte's 2nd district | |
| In office June 30, 1992 – April 15, 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Constantino Navarro |
| Succeeded by | Ace Barbers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Zabala Barbers January 19, 1944 Surigao, Surigao, Commonwealth of the Philippines |
| Died | December 25, 2005 (aged 61) Pasig, Philippines |
| Resting place | Manila Memorial Park – Sucat |
| Political party | Lakas–CMD |
| Spouse | Virginia Smith |
| Children | with Smith: 4, including Ace out of wedlock: 4 |
| Residence | Surigao City |
| Alma mater | Silliman University Lyceum of the Philippines University (BA, LL.B) National Defense College of the Philippines (MS, MNSA) |
| Occupation | Politician, police officer |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Nickname | Bobby |
| Police career | |
| Allegiance |  Philippines |
| Department | |
| Branch | |
| Rank |  Police Colonel |
Early life and education edit
Barbers was born in the then-town of Surigao in the then-undivided Surigao province, on January 19, 1944,[1] to Felix Barbers, a judge, and Regina, who would serve as vice governor of Surigao del Norte.[2] Felix was the brother of retired police general James Barbers, who was a vice mayor of Manila and superintendent of the Western Police District.[2][3] His paternal grandfather, George Barbieri (later Barbers), was an Italian-American immigrant from the Spanish–American War who married a Surigaonon woman.[citation needed]
Barbers finished elementary (1955) and secondary education (1959, as valedictorian) in his hometown.[1]
While serving as a police officer, he studied AB Political Science at the University of the Philippines and Silliman University but completed his degree in 1981 at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, where he also earned his Bachelor of Laws in 1985.[4][5]
He later went on to earn Master of Science degrees in criminology (Metro Manila College) and in national security administration (National Defense College) in 1992 and 1994, respectively.[4][5]
Police career edit
He spent 27 years as a police officer in Manila. He started in 1960s as a patrolman.[6] He rose through the ranks[1] while being a member of the police force, eventually becoming colonel.[4] He also served as chief of the Police Special Task Force of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and inspector of the National Police Commission.[4]
A bemedaled police general,[1] he participated in "the elimination of several notorious drug traffickers" while under the auspices of the NBI, which was then headed by Alfredo Lim.[7] He was credited with the arrest of suspected drug lord Jose "Don Pepe" Oyson (who was later killed by NBI agents), then military rebel Billy Bibit, and communist leader Ignacio Capegsan, for which he was promoted.[6]
Political career edit
As district representative edit
Barbers entered politics in 1992 as representative of the 2nd district of Surigao del Norte.[1][4][6] He was re-elected in 1995.[4]
As a cabinet chief edit
Barbers' second term in the 10th Congress was cut short when he became part of the cabinet of president Fidel Ramos, who appointed him as secretary of the interior and local government in 1996.[1][4][6]
As a senator edit
Barbers first ran for senator in 1998, where he placed fifth, becoming the first police officer to hold such electoral position.[6]
Barbers, who headed the committee on public order and illegal drugs, was noted still being active in law enforcement in his term. He authored laws focusing on the fight against criminality. He was the first to file an anti-terrorism bill in the Senate.[4]
Barbers authored the law creating the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, as well as laws that giving more penalties against jueteng protectors and operators and strengthening the campaign against illegal drugs,[6] particularly drug trafficking.[1]
He was an advocate of death penalty for heinous crimes.[6]
1998 and 2004 elections edit
Barbers, a stalwart of the Lakas–CMD party, was twice considered as running mate to then presidential candidates, Jose de Venecia Jr. in 1998 and incumbent Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo in 2004. He was later convinced to give way to Arroyo and to then senator Noli de Castro, respectively.[4] (De Venecia was defeated by Joseph Estrada; Arroyo won and later ascended to the presidency, replacing Estrada who was then ousted.)
In 2004, Barbers ran for re-election under the ruling party, but lost in the twelfth spot to incumbent Rodolfo Biazon.[4][8][9] Both ran under the administration K-4 coalition.[4] He later filed an election protest against Biazon to contest the slot, accusing the Commission on Elections of hastily proclaiming the latter's victory and demanding the awaiting of the results in his strongholds in Mindanao. However, his petition was denied.[6]
His name was mentioned in the controversial "Hello Garci" tapes, whose transcripts showed him calling then election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to ensure his victory.[6]
Personal life edit
Bobby,[10] as Barbers was known to many, was married to Virginia Smith. They had four children—three sons, all also named Robert, and a daughter.[4][6]
- Robert Lyndon, the eldest who is currently serving as governor of Surigao del Norte, previously held the same position within two terms.[11][12] He was one of the directors of the Department of Tourism (DOT).[4] In 2010, he ran for Surigao City mayor but lost.[13]
- Robert Ace is currently serving his sixth term as the representative of the province's second district,[11] the position which Robert had previously held.[12] He also served as provincial governor until 2010 when he lost in his re-election bid;[13] at that time the family's political control in the province ended with the defeat of his two brothers as well.[14]
- Robert Dean, the youngest son, served as a councilor in Makati[12][14] and held cabinet positions during the Arroyo administration,[12] being named officer-in-charge of the DOT[14] and general manager and CEO of the Philippine Tourism Authority.[13] In 2010, he ran for Makati 1st district representative, but lost.[13]
- The only daughter, the youngest, worked with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.[4]
Barbers, was a pious devotee of the Santo Niño. In 1995, he formed a group of would-be devotees which composed of workers of a folk music bar in Malate, Manila, where he had used to frequent while being a policeman.[15]
Later life and death edit
Barbers, who had suffered throat cancer,[4] flew to the United States and underwent surgery in November 2000,[1][6] missing the impeachment trial of then president Estrada in the Senate.[1]
In July 2005, Barbers left for the same country (for the last time) for a medical checkup. In early December, he was confined at The Medical City in Pasig for a week.[6] His condition later deteriorated[4] until Christmas Eve, when he was rushed to the same hospital due to difficulty on breathing.[1][6]
Barbers died at 10:29 a.m.,[4][6] on Christmas Day, 2005, due to heart failure.[1][4] He was buried at the Manila Memorial Park – Sucat in Parañaque.[15]
In popular culture edit
- Portrayed by Phillip Salvador in the 1997 film Bobby Barbers: Parak.[6]
- Portrayed by Zandro Zamora in the 1994 film "Col. Billy Bibit, RAM".[16][17][18]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Ex-sen. Barbers is dead". The Manila Times. Manila. December 26, 2005. pp. A1–A2. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ a b Serrano, Ben (December 27, 2005). "Surigao awaits remains of favorite son". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ "Ex-Manila vice mayor Barbers, 95". The Philippine Star. July 16, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Jaymalin, Mayen (December 26, 2005). "Ailing Barbers dies of heart attack". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ a b "Robert Barbers". Makati Business Club. Retrieved 2009-12-21. Archived 2002-08-16 at archive.today
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Bergonia, Tony; Lim Ubac, Michael (December 26, 2005). "Ex-Senator Barbers dies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Makati. pp. A1, A6. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Barbers' sons protest dragging of father's name into WB mess". GMA News Online. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
- ^ Frialde, Mike (July 4, 2004). "'Namfrel vote tally shows Barbers beat Biazon'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Diaz, Jess (April 12, 2005). "Escudero: Barbers welcome in opposition". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ Serrano, Ben (January 1, 2006). "Surigao City folk welcome Barbers home". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Arguillas, Carolyn (July 15, 2022). "Special Report: Mindanao 2022 to 2025: fat and obese dynasties rule (part 3 of 3)". MindaNews. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Muego, Benjamin (2005). "The Philippines in 2004: A Gathering Storm". In Singh, Daljit (ed.). Southeast Asian Affairs 2005. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 310. Retrieved May 30, 2024 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d Tiongson–Mayrina, Karen (July 20, 2010). "How dynasties fared in the May 2010 elections (part 2 of 3)". GMA News Online. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c Almeda, Vanessa (February 8, 2013). "'Underdog' Barbers brothers vow good fight vs rival Matugas family". MindaNews. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ a b Villanueva, Rhodina (January 6, 2006). "Hobbits, relatives, friends bid Barbers goodbye". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Col. Billy Bibit, RAM (1994) *Portrayed by Dick Israel in the 1995 film Alfredo Lim, Batas ng Maynila."-IMDb, retrieved 2023-12-23
- ^ "Nerdspin - Movie, TV and Celebrity Database". nerdspin.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
- ^ "Col. Billy Bibit, RAM (1994) Full Cast & Crew | Flixi". Flixi.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.