Benjamin Romualdez

Carlos Benjamin Orestes "Kokoy" Trinidad Romualdez^[2] (September 24, 1930 – February 21, 2012) was a Filipino politician who served as Governor of Leyte and later appointed as ambassador to the United States, China and Saudi Arabia.^[3][4]

He was a younger brother to former

Romualdez embarked on his own career in the diplomatic service and in politics spanning more than 20 years. He served several terms as Leyte governor from 1967 to 1986. During this time, his brother-in-law, President Ferdinand Marcos also appointed him as ambassador to China, Saudi Arabia and the United States.^[4]

Romualdez was instrumental in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China in the 1970s, becoming Manila's first ambassador to Beijing. He also led the Marcos government's negotiations with the United States regarding the renegotiation of the two countries'

He was elected as a member of the Batasang Pambansa in 1984, but chose to remain ambassador to the United States, and was therefore disqualified to sit in the parliament.

In 1986, he went into exile with his family following the People Power Revolution, and returned fourteen years later in 2000.^[3]

Death

He died on the afternoon of February 21, 2012, of cancer, at Makati Medical Center in Makati at the age of 81. His remains were brought to Tacloban for a funeral before being laid to rest at The Heritage Park in Taguig on February 27.^[6][7] He is part of the Romualdez Clan, the strongest political clan of Eastern Visayas. According to Sen. Imee Romualdez Marcos,their ancestors came from Northern Samar, settled in Leyte, and prospered in Tacloban City. One of their ancestors is a part of the Sumuroy Revolt which started in Northern Samar.

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