Robert Barbers
Encyclopedia
Robert Zabala Barbers was a police officer, Secretary of Interior and Local Government and Senator
of the Philippines
.
to Felix and Regina Barbers. His grandfather, George Barbieri (later Barbers), was an Italian-American immigrant from the Spanish-American War
who married an Ilocana
. He spoke Cebuano
, Tagalog
, English
, and his native Surigaonon
. Barbers studied at the Surigao Elementary School and finished in 1955. He graduated as valedictorian
at Surigao High School in 1959. He took up Political Science
at Silliman University
but completed it in 1981 at the Lyceum of the Philippines University
, where he also earned his Bachelor of Laws
in 1985.
He later went on to earn a degree of Master of Science in Criminology
at the Metro Manila College in 1992. Additionally, he earned the degree of Master of Science in National Security Administration at the National Defense College in 1994.
Police Department. In 1975, he became a police sergeant and was assigned in some chartered cities. He was promoted to the rank of Police Officer II in 1981 and to Police officer I in 1983.
Barbers rose from the ranks of the Police Service and came to be known as one of Manila’s finest police officers. As a matter of fact, busting crooks and solving criminal cases has gained him numerous awards and commendations during his 27 years as a law enforcer.
His list of accomplishments as a police officer include: adjudged for three consecutive years as one of the Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP) from 1986 to 1988; sixteen efficiency medals for solving major crimes; earned promotions for the arrest of drug lord Don Jose Pepe Oyson and rebel leaders Col. Billy Bibit
and Ignacio Capegsan; awarded the medals of merit and gallantry and given commendations and letters from the U.S. State Department and various other embassies; and was the only Filipino Golden Service Awardee for Outstanding Law Enforcer in Asia, which was awarded in New York in 1991.
as a member of the House of Representatives
. At the early stage of his political career, the then Representative of the 2nd District of Surigao del Norte
was recognized and acclaimed for his outstanding performance as a legislator by various institutions and organizations, including the Consumer Welfare Foundation of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, Gladiator Magazine, Pilipino Newsline, the Consumer’s Union of the Philippines (PICC) and the National Defense College of the Philippines. The Mindanao congressman was re-elected in 1995
unopposed.
Fidel Ramos as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
As a member of the Cabinet, Barbers remained active in his campaign against criminality with his founding of the Public Assistance and Reaction Against Crime (PARAC). It was also during his stint as Interior Chief that he intensified his campaign against illegal drugs. He established the Bring-A-Friend Project, which worked for the voluntary submission of drug dependents for rehabilitation. It was also during his tenure as Interior and Local Government Secretary when he founded the Barangay at Pulisya Laban sa Krimen (BPLK) Program whose main purpose was to enlist the cooperation and active participation of the civilian population in the fight against criminality.
Moreover, Barbers added another feature to his cap when he was named by the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey as the most effective, most efficient, and most popular Cabinet member of the Ramos administration for five consecutive times.
as a Senator under the Lakas NUCD Party. During the campaign, Barbers was deemed as one of the “sure win” candidates for the Senate. True enough, the Mindanao congressman ranked fifth among the elected Senators in terms of votes received, and became the first and, thus far, the only police officer who became a member of the Senate.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, Barbers continued to be a staunch crusader against criminality, injustice, and illegal drugs, which he considered as the number one enemy of the people. He authored more than a hundred bills and resolutions, majority of which are aimed at improving the peace and order situation and uplifting the living conditions of the Filipinos
.
In November 2000, Barbers was diagnosed with a throat problem and was later flown to the United States
. He was the lone senator absent during the impeachment
trial of President
Joseph Estrada
. When he returned to the Philippines in February 2001, the impeachent trial was over and Estrada was ousted by the second EDSA People Power Revolution.
After the 2001 elections
, Barbers authored the law creating the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. He was instrumental in the crafting of other laws that increased penalties for "jueteng" protectors and operators and strengthened the anti-drugs campaign, such as including possession of 10 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride as a nonbailable offense.
Barbers was a strong advocate of the death penalty for capital offenders.
, Barbers ran for reelection as senator under the Lakas CMD banner, but lost.
He filed an election protest against Senator Rodolfo Biazon
to contest the 12th slot, accusing the Commission on Elections of haste in proclaiming the latter's victory and demanding that the poll body await the election results in his strongholds in Mindanao. His petition was eventually denied.
Barbers' name was also mentioned in the controversial "Hello Garci" tapes.
Transcripts of the tapes showed Barbers purportedly calling then Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano
to ensure his victory in the 2004 elections.
is the incumbent governor of Surigao del Norte
who previously became congressman representing the 2nd District of the same province. His eldest son, Robert King was said to be Barbers's favorite grandson. Robert "Dean" Barbers III is the Director of the Philippine Tourism
Authority and was once a city councilor of Makati. Robert "Lyndon" Barbers IV is the Provincial Governor
of Surigao del Norte
. Mary Grace Barbers manages the family business in various locations in Mindanao
.
Barbers made it a point to personally meet and hear the problems of each visitor. He was also a pious devotee of the Santo Niño, as evidenced by the various icons of the child Christ which adorned his office. He credited the Santo Niño for every success, including the criminal cases he had solved and all his electoral victories. Because of his devotion to the child Christ, and for being a law enforcer, Barbers came up with a Santo Niño image dressed in police uniform, which came to be known as the Sto. Niño de Policia.
Barbers was twice considered for the position of vice president in the ticket of then presidential candidate de Venecia in 1998, and again in 2001 after Arroyo considered him following her ascension to the presidency after the ouster of Joseph Estrada
.
due to esophageal cancer
at The Medical City hospital in Pasig City
. He was 61. He was laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Early life and studies
Barbers was born in Surigao CitySurigao City
The City of Surigao The City of Surigao The City of Surigao (Filipino Pronunciation: (sů-rēh-GAŮ) ( Filipino: Lungsod ng Surigao; Surigaonon: Siyudad nan Surigao) located at the northeasternmost tip of Mindanao Island in the Philippines and the capital of the province of Surigao del Norte,...
to Felix and Regina Barbers. His grandfather, George Barbieri (later Barbers), was an Italian-American immigrant from the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
who married an Ilocana
Ilocano people
The Ilocano or Ilokano people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. Aside from being referred to as Ilocanos, from "i"-from, and "looc"-bay, they also refer to themselves as Samtoy, from the Ilocano phrase "sao mi ditoy", meaning 'our language here.' The word "Ilocano" came from...
. He spoke Cebuano
Cebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
, Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and his native Surigaonon
Surigaonon language
Surigaonon is a local Philippine language spoken by Surigaonon people in the province of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and some portion of Agusan del Norte especially the towns near the Mainit Lake...
. Barbers studied at the Surigao Elementary School and finished in 1955. He graduated as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
at Surigao High School in 1959. He took up Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Silliman University
Silliman University
Silliman University is a private research university located in Dumaguete, Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it was the first American private school to be founded in the country. The University is named after Dr...
but completed it in 1981 at the Lyceum of the Philippines University
Lyceum of the Philippines University
The Lyceum of the Philippines University is an institute of higher education located in Intramuros in the City of Manila. It was founded in 1952 by Dr. José P. Laurel, who became the third and one of the most acclaimed presidents of the Philippines...
, where he also earned his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1985.
He later went on to earn a degree of Master of Science in Criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
at the Metro Manila College in 1992. Additionally, he earned the degree of Master of Science in National Security Administration at the National Defense College in 1994.
Police career
Barbers was encouraged by his uncle, police general and former Vice Mayor of Manila, James Barbers, who was then with the Philippine National Police - Western Police District, to join the police force. He was also influenced by his readings of various mystery novels. He took and topped the examinations for enlistment in the ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
Police Department. In 1975, he became a police sergeant and was assigned in some chartered cities. He was promoted to the rank of Police Officer II in 1981 and to Police officer I in 1983.
Barbers rose from the ranks of the Police Service and came to be known as one of Manila’s finest police officers. As a matter of fact, busting crooks and solving criminal cases has gained him numerous awards and commendations during his 27 years as a law enforcer.
His list of accomplishments as a police officer include: adjudged for three consecutive years as one of the Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP) from 1986 to 1988; sixteen efficiency medals for solving major crimes; earned promotions for the arrest of drug lord Don Jose Pepe Oyson and rebel leaders Col. Billy Bibit
Billy Bibit
Billy Bibit was a Filipino retired colonel who led a series of attempted coups against former President of the Philippines Corazon Aquino during the 1980s as a member of the Revolutionary Patriot Alliance .Bibit graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1972...
and Ignacio Capegsan; awarded the medals of merit and gallantry and given commendations and letters from the U.S. State Department and various other embassies; and was the only Filipino Golden Service Awardee for Outstanding Law Enforcer in Asia, which was awarded in New York in 1991.
Congressman
Barbers entered the political arena in 1992Philippine general election, 1992
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 11, 1992. This was the first general election under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. An estimated 80,000 candidates ran for 17,000 posts from the presidency down to municipal councilors...
as a member of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
. At the early stage of his political career, the then Representative of the 2nd District of Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Surigao City. The province consists of two major islands—Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Island—in the Philippine Sea, and a small region at the northernmost tip of the island of...
was recognized and acclaimed for his outstanding performance as a legislator by various institutions and organizations, including the Consumer Welfare Foundation of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, Gladiator Magazine, Pilipino Newsline, the Consumer’s Union of the Philippines (PICC) and the National Defense College of the Philippines. The Mindanao congressman was re-elected in 1995
Philippine general election, 1995
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 8, 1995. Filipinos protected the ballot boxes with their lives and campaigned against traditional politicians who used bribery, flying voters, violence, election rigging, stealing of ballot boxes and etc...
unopposed.
Secretary of Interior and Local Government
Barbers's second term was cut short when he was appointed by PresidentPresident of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Fidel Ramos as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
As a member of the Cabinet, Barbers remained active in his campaign against criminality with his founding of the Public Assistance and Reaction Against Crime (PARAC). It was also during his stint as Interior Chief that he intensified his campaign against illegal drugs. He established the Bring-A-Friend Project, which worked for the voluntary submission of drug dependents for rehabilitation. It was also during his tenure as Interior and Local Government Secretary when he founded the Barangay at Pulisya Laban sa Krimen (BPLK) Program whose main purpose was to enlist the cooperation and active participation of the civilian population in the fight against criminality.
Moreover, Barbers added another feature to his cap when he was named by the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey as the most effective, most efficient, and most popular Cabinet member of the Ramos administration for five consecutive times.
Senator
Barbers was encouraged by Ramos to run in the 1998 electionsPhilippine general election, 1998
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 11, 1998. The two main competing coalitions in the senatorial election were the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP and the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino -led coalition composed of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino , Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino , the...
as a Senator under the Lakas NUCD Party. During the campaign, Barbers was deemed as one of the “sure win” candidates for the Senate. True enough, the Mindanao congressman ranked fifth among the elected Senators in terms of votes received, and became the first and, thus far, the only police officer who became a member of the Senate.
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, Barbers continued to be a staunch crusader against criminality, injustice, and illegal drugs, which he considered as the number one enemy of the people. He authored more than a hundred bills and resolutions, majority of which are aimed at improving the peace and order situation and uplifting the living conditions of the Filipinos
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
In November 2000, Barbers was diagnosed with a throat problem and was later flown to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was the lone senator absent during the impeachment
Impeachment
Impeachment is a formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as other punishment....
trial of President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
. When he returned to the Philippines in February 2001, the impeachent trial was over and Estrada was ousted by the second EDSA People Power Revolution.
After the 2001 elections
Philippine general election, 2001
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 14, 2001. Independent candidate Noli de Castro, a former television anchor of TV Patrol of ABS-CBN was announced as the topnotcher...
, Barbers authored the law creating the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. He was instrumental in the crafting of other laws that increased penalties for "jueteng" protectors and operators and strengthened the anti-drugs campaign, such as including possession of 10 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride as a nonbailable offense.
Barbers was a strong advocate of the death penalty for capital offenders.
2004 elections
In the 2004 electionsPhilippine general election, 2004
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,...
, Barbers ran for reelection as senator under the Lakas CMD banner, but lost.
He filed an election protest against Senator Rodolfo Biazon
Rodolfo Biazon
Rodolfo "Pong" Gaspar Biazon is a politician in the Philippines. He is a former Senator. He was elected Senator in the 1992 election for a term of 3 years. He was elected to his first six-year term in the 1998 election, and was re-elected in the 2004 election...
to contest the 12th slot, accusing the Commission on Elections of haste in proclaiming the latter's victory and demanding that the poll body await the election results in his strongholds in Mindanao. His petition was eventually denied.
Barbers' name was also mentioned in the controversial "Hello Garci" tapes.
Transcripts of the tapes showed Barbers purportedly calling then Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano
Virgilio Garcillano
Virgilio Olivar Garcillano also known as Garci, is a former official of the Philippine Commission on Elections who allegedly was involved in Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's alleged electoral fraud in the Hello Garci scandal....
to ensure his victory in the 2004 elections.
Personal life
Bobby, as Barbers was known to many, is married to Virginia Smith. They have four children, three of whom are sons also named Robert. Robert "Ace" Barbers, Jr.Robert "Ace" Barbers
-Early Life:Born Robert "Ace" S. Barbers on May 31, 1969 in Manila, Philippines. He is the second of four siblings by Robert Barbers and Virginia Smith.-Personal Life:...
is the incumbent governor of Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Surigao City. The province consists of two major islands—Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Island—in the Philippine Sea, and a small region at the northernmost tip of the island of...
who previously became congressman representing the 2nd District of the same province. His eldest son, Robert King was said to be Barbers's favorite grandson. Robert "Dean" Barbers III is the Director of the Philippine Tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
Authority and was once a city councilor of Makati. Robert "Lyndon" Barbers IV is the Provincial Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Caraga region in Mindanao. Its capital is Surigao City. The province consists of two major islands—Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Island—in the Philippine Sea, and a small region at the northernmost tip of the island of...
. Mary Grace Barbers manages the family business in various locations in Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
.
Barbers made it a point to personally meet and hear the problems of each visitor. He was also a pious devotee of the Santo Niño, as evidenced by the various icons of the child Christ which adorned his office. He credited the Santo Niño for every success, including the criminal cases he had solved and all his electoral victories. Because of his devotion to the child Christ, and for being a law enforcer, Barbers came up with a Santo Niño image dressed in police uniform, which came to be known as the Sto. Niño de Policia.
Barbers was twice considered for the position of vice president in the ticket of then presidential candidate de Venecia in 1998, and again in 2001 after Arroyo considered him following her ascension to the presidency after the ouster of Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
.
Death
Barbers died at 10:29 a.m., on Christmas Day, 2005, of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
due to esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
at The Medical City hospital in Pasig City
Pasig City
The City of Pasig is one of the city municipalities of Metro Manila in the Philippines and was the former capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of cities designated as the National Capital Region...
. He was 61. He was laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.