Editing Raul Roco

{{Short description|Filipino politician (1941–2018)}}
{{Distinguish|Raul Goco}}
{{Philippine name|Sagarbarria|[[Roco (surname)|Roco]]}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Raul  Roco
| image               = Raul Roco visit in San Enrique, Iloilo in c. 2002.jpg
| imagesize           = 220px
| smallimage          = 
| caption             = Roco in 2002
| office              = 46th [[Secretary of Education (Philippines)|Secretary of Education]]<br><small>Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports (2001)</small>
| term_start          = January 22, 2001
| term_end            = August 31, 2002
| president           = [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]]
| predecessor         = [[Andrew Gonzalez|Br. Andrew Gonzalez]] (DECS Secretary)
| successor           = [[Edilberto de Jesus]] 
<!-- SENATOR -->| office1             = [[Senate of the Philippines|Senator of the Philippines]]
| term_start1         = June 30, 1992
| term_end1           = February 9, 2001
<!-- REPRESENTATIVE -->| order2              = 
| office2             = Member of the [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]] from [[Camarines Sur]]'s [[Camarines Sur's 2nd congressional district|2nd District]]
| term_start2         = June 30, 1987
| term_end2           = June 30, 1992
| predecessor2        = post last held by [[Felix Fuentebella|Felix A. Fuentebella]]
| successor2          = Celso Baguio
<!-- PERSONAL INFORMATION -->| birth_name          = Raul Sagarbarria Roco
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1941|10|26}}
| birth_place         = [[Naga, Camarines Sur|Naga]], [[Camarines Sur]], [[Commonwealth of the Philippines]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2005|8|5|1941|10|26}}
| death_place         = [[Quezon City]], Philippines
| nationality         = [[Philippines|Filipino]]
| party               = [[Aksyon Demokratiko|Aksyon]] (1997–2005)
| otherparty          = [[Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino|LDP]] (1992–1997)<br>[[United Nationalist Democratic Organization|UNIDO]] (1987–1992)
| spouse              = [[Sonia Roco|Sonia C. Malasarte]]
| relations           = 
| children            = 6
| residence           = [[Naga, Camarines Sur|Naga City]]
| alma_mater          = [[San Beda College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B]])<br/> [[University of Pennsylvania]] ([[Master of Laws|LL.M]])
| occupation          = [[Lawyer]], [[Politician]], [[Film Producer]], [[Musician]]
| profession          = 
| signature           = 
| website             = 
| footnotes           = 
}}
'''Raul Sagarbarria Roco''' (October 26, 1941 – August 5, 2005<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crisostomo |first=Sheila |title=Roco succumbs to cancer; 63 |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/08/06/290072/roco-succumbs-cancer-63 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>) was a Filipino politician. He was the founder and presidential nominee of ''[[Aksyon Demokratiko]]'', which he founded in 1997 as a vehicle for his presidential bid in [[1998 Philippine presidential election|1998]] and [[Raul Roco 2004 presidential campaign|his second one]] in [[2004 Philippine presidential election|2004]]. He was a former constitutional delegate, [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|congressman]], [[Senate of the Philippines|senator]] and Secretary of Education under the presidency of [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]].

He had a strong following among young voters in the Philippines due to his efforts to promote honesty and [[good governance]].

==Early life and education==

Raul Roco was born in [[Naga City, Camarines Sur|Naga]] in the [[Philippine province]] of [[Camarines Sur]], the son of farmer Sulpicio Azuela Roco and public school teacher Rosario Orlanda Sagarbarria.

Roco finished elementary school at age 10 from Naga Parochial School, and high school at age 14 from [[Ateneo de Naga]]. He graduated ''[[Latin honors|magna cum laude]]'' from [[San Beda College]] (now San Beda University) in [[Manila, Philippines|Manila]] with a degree in [[English studies|English]] in 1960. Then, he was also the Editor-in-Chief of The Bedan working with the likes of [[Rene Saguisag]] and Jaime Licauco. Later, Roco received a [[Bachelor of Laws]] degree (also at San Beda College) and was the college's Abbott Awardee for Over-All Excellence.  In the [[United States]], he obtained his [[Master of Laws]] at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], while also cross-enrolled at [[Wharton School]] where he took up multinational studies. Roco also wrote the official school lyrics, "The Bedan Hymn" as a student. Fr. Benildus Maramba OSB collaborated and composed the hymn.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alma Mater Hymn|url=https://www.sanbeda.edu.ph/post/71/sbu-seal-and-hymn}}</ref>

He was the president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines in 1961 and was named one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines in 1964. His wife Sonia was the Most Outstanding Student that same year.

As a result of his various other achievements, he had been awarded seven [[honorary doctorate]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Raul S. Roco|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=30347|access-date=2021-05-17|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

==Political/professional career==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2024}}
After he passed the bar in 1965, Roco lobbied for the holding of a [[Constitutional convention (political meeting)|Constitutional Convention]] that aimed to amend the 1935 Philippine Constitution. He campaigned for a seat to represent his district in [[Camarines Sur]]. He won and thus became convention's youngest [[Bicolano people|Bicolano]] delegate.

He became one the legal staff of the late Philippine Senator [[Benigno Aquino Jr.|Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino]], and he drafted the Study Now, Pay Later law.

From 1983 to 1985, he served as president of the [[Integrated Bar of the Philippines]]. Under his term, he questioned [[Ferdinand Marcos]] presidential decrees.

Alongside his work in law, he has also served as a film producer.  In 1974, he was the executive producer of the late film director Lino Brocka's movie ''Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang''; this film won six [[FAMAS award]]s that year, including best film.

Among all legislators of the Eighth Congress of the Philippines (which lasted from 1987 to 1992), he was adjudged by the [[Ford Foundation]] and the University of the Philippines Institute of Strategic and Development Studies as first in over-all performance.

===Senate===
Roco was elected to the Senate in 1992 and 1995 serving until 2001, making many contributions that led many to recognize him as an "outstanding senator".  He wrote the law which reformed the nation's banking system; this earned him the title "Father of the Bangko Sentral". Some other laws that he wrote resulted in the liberalization of the banking industry and the strengthening of the thrift banks. In addition, he wrote the Intellectual Property Code and the Securities Regulation Code.

Roco has also made several contributions to education in the Philippines. He helped fund the teachers' cooperatives as well as the increment mandated by the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers for retiring public school teachers. On the students' side, he helped bring computers into Philippine universities, colleges, and public schools. In addition, he devised a plan for meal scholarships for poor students at the Philippine Normal University.

Roco wrote several bills targeted at protecting and prioritizing women in the Philippines. He wrote the Women in Nation Building Law, the Nursing Act, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, the Anti-Rape Law, and the Child and Family Courts Act. He also let women play major roles in the Department of Education's literacy program.  Out of thanks to his services for women, many women's groups named him an "Honorary Woman".

He also drafted a bill that abolished double taxation on Filipinos working abroad.

He was given the Bantay Katarungan award by Kilosbayan for playing an integral role in the Senate impeachment trial of then-president [[Joseph Estrada]] who was impeached by the House of Representatives on 2000 for graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the [[Constitution of the Philippines|1987 Philippine Constitution]]. Unfortunately, the impeachment trial was not concluded and in 2001, Estrada was ousted from power by another [[Second EDSA Revolution|People Power uprising]].

===As Secretary of Education===
[[File:Raul Sagarbarria Roco (cropped).jpg|Raul Roco|150px|thumb]]
Roco took over as education secretary of the Philippines in 2001, at a time when the Philippines had not only one of the ten most corrupt governments in the world (according to [[Transparency International]]), but its Department of Education was also the fourth-most corrupt of its agencies (as named by the Asia Foundation - Social Weather Stations Survey of Enterprises on Public Sector Corruption). To combat this corruption, Roco imposed a department-wide transparency policy which also held employees accountable for the purchase of textbooks, which had been a major source of the department's corruption. This allowed the department to purchase textbooks for a much lower price, and after just eight months under Roco's leadership, the Department of Education gained a 73% public approval rating and became the most trusted government agency in the Philippines.

During his tenure in that position, Roco allowed free public education (through high school) as required by the Philippine Constitution. He also enacted a reform of basic education curriculum in order that children would focus their studies on reading, writing, arithmetic, science, and Makabayan. In addition, he made sure that teachers were paid promptly and ended the 3% "service fee" that the department had long been deducting from teachers' pay.

==Candidacy for President==
===1998===

Roco ran for president in the [[1998 Philippine presidential election|1998 Philippine election]]. He lost to Vice-President [[Joseph Estrada]] but had a remarkable showing in a field of eleven candidates despite being an independent candidate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Samonte |first=Severino |date=May 18, 2022 |title=‘98, ‘22 general elections had 10 presidential candidates each |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174735 |work=[[Philippine News Agency]]}}</ref> His strong showing was attributed to the widespread support he received from young Filipinos who eventually formed his party, [[Aksyon Demokratiko]], and its youth arm, Aksyon Kabataan. Party leaders then included Jaime Galvez Tan, [[Lorna Kapunan|Lorna Patajo-Kapunan]] and Darwin Mariano.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benigno |first=Teodoro C. |date=August 5, 2002 |title=The Roco factor |url=https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2002/08/05/170853/roco-factor |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Crisostomo |first=Sheila |date=August 6, 2005 |title=Roco succumbs to cancer; 63 |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/08/06/290072/roco-succumbs-cancer-63 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref> 

===2004===
[[File:Iconic red floral polo of late DepEd Secretary Raul Roco.jpg|thumb|right|An iconic red floral polo of late DepEd Secretary Raul Roco worn during his campaigns]]
Roco rode his success in the Department of Education into a [[Raul Roco 2004 presidential campaign|run for the Philippine presidency]] in [[2004 Philippine presidential election|2004]]. His candidacy was based on his ability to fight corruption and to display fair play, decency, and honor. His Aksyon Demokratiko party formed a coalition with [[PROMDI|Promdi]] and [[Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma|Reporma]], the parties of 1998 presidential candidates [[Lito Osmeña]] and [[Renato de Villa|Rene de Villa]], to form the ''[[Alyansa ng Pag-asa]]'' (Alliance of Hope).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crisostomo |first=Sheila |date=November 25, 2003 |title=New alliance boosts Roco’s 2004 poll bid |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2003/11/25/229168/new-alliance-boosts-roco146s-2004-poll-bid |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>

Roco was a front-runner in pre-election surveys and was considered a strong contender. However, during the campaign, he battled with recurrence of his cancer, after remission from his bout with [[prostate cancer]] in 1996. His illness forced him to leave the campaign trail for medical attention in the [[United States]]. Doctors told him that his condition was not life-threatening and that he could continue his run for the presidency. He returned to the campaign trail, but concerns about his illness greatly diminished his support.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Crisostomo |first=Sheila |last2=Araneta |first2=Sandy |date=April 29, 2004 |title=Roco not backing out of race |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2004/04/29/248047/roco-not-backing-out-race |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2004 |title=Roco balik na,pero alyansa basag na |url=https://www.philstar.com/bansa/2004/04/29/248113/roco-balik-napero-alyansa-basag-na |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>

He [[2004 Philippine presidential election|lost the election]] to the [[incumbent]], [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo]], and finished fourth in a field of 5 candidates.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crisostomo |first=Sheila |date=May 18, 2004 |title=Roco concedes to GMA |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2004/05/18/250414/roco-concedes-gma |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>

He was the President of Aksyon Demokratiko until his death.

== Personal life ==
Roco was married to [[Sonia Roco|Sonia Cubillo Malasarte]] from [[Bohol]]. They have six children (Robbie Pierre, Raul Jr., Sophia, Sareena, Rex and Synara). <!-- needs update? and seven grandchildren (Nica, Reece, Samantha, Shania, Santina, Beannie and RB). -->

==Death==

On August 5, 2005, Raul Roco died of [[prostate cancer]], at [[St Luke's Medical Center]] in [[Quezon City]]. He was buried in [[Naga City, Camarines Sur |Naga]], [[Camarines Sur]].[https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2005/08/06/290072/roco-succumbs-cancer-63] 

His widow, Sonia, ran for being a [[Senate of the Philippines|Senator]] under the [[Genuine Opposition]] (formerly United Opposition) umbrella in the [[2007 Philippine general election|May 14, 2007 midterm elections]] and [[2010 Philippine presidential election]] but lost. She still represents the party he started, Aksyon Demokratiko, hoping to continue the advocacies that her late husband had started.

==See also==

*[[2016 Philippine general election]]
*[[2013 Philippine general election]]
*[[2010 Philippine general election]]
*[[2004 Philippine general election]]
*[[1998 Philippine general election]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19970703164122/http://www.raulroco.com/ Official website]}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20030625192110/http://www.raulroco.com/aksyonD/aksyonD.htm Aksyon Demokratiko]}}
* [http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/raul_roco.htm Biography at the Senate of the Philippines website]
* [http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=45913 Former senator Roco dies] News of his death and obituary in the Philippine Inquirer
* [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2005/08/05/ex.senator.roco.passes.away.(11.01.a.m.).html Ex-senator Roco passes away (11.01 a.m.)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731152534/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2005/08/05/ex.senator.roco.passes.away.(11.01.a.m.).html |date=2009-07-31 }} News of his death in the Sunstar
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051114174956/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=12385 Raul Roco succumbs to prostate cancer] Article from ABS-CBN news
*[http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=45968 The grass will be greener the next day] Article from INQ7.net
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060426181739/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=12394 Malacañan: Roco a true patriot, freedom fighter] Article from ABS-CBN with reactions from other Philippine politicians
*[http://news.inq7.net/opinion/index.php?index=2&story_id=46516&col=82 Roco in search of Camelot] Philippine Daily Inquirer article
*[http://www.caddenside.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album44&id=AboardPR103&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php A single photographic tribute to the great Late Senator Roco] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929205140/http://www.caddenside.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album44&id=AboardPR103&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php |date=2007-09-29 }} Aboard PR103 with Rob, Lyds and Ron Oania

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{{s-ttl|title = [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|Representative]], [[Camarines Sur]]'s [[Camarines Sur's 2nd congressional district|2nd District]] | years = 1987–1992}}
{{s-aft |after = Celso Baguio }}
|-
{{s-off}}
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 before = [[Andrew Gonzalez|Br. Andrew Gonzalez]] |
 after = [[Edilberto de Jesus]] |
 title = [[Secretary of Education (Philippines)|Secretary of Education]] |
 years = 2001–2002
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{{s-new|first}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Aksyon Demokratiko]] nominee<br>for [[President of the Philippines]] and [[Senate of the Philippines]]|years=[[1998 Philippine presidential election|1998]], [[2004 Philippine presidential election|2004]], and [[2016 Philippine presidential election|2016]]}}
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{{Candidates in the Philippine presidential election, 2004}}
{{Candidates in the Philippine presidential election, 1998}}
{{Macapagal-Arroyo cabinet}}
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{{9th Congress of the Philippines senators}}
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[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Naga, Camarines Sur]]
[[Category:Bicolano people]]
[[Category:Filipino Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2016 Philippine presidential election]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2010 Philippine presidential election]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2004 Philippine presidential election]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1998 Philippine presidential election]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the 11th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the 10th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Senators of the 9th Congress of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Camarines Sur]]
[[Category:20th-century Filipino lawyers]]
[[Category:Bicolano politicians]]
[[Category:Aksyon Demokratiko politicians]]
[[Category:Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino politicians]]
[[Category:Secretaries of education of the Philippines]]
[[Category:University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni]]
[[Category:San Beda University alumni]]
[[Category:Arroyo administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:Filipino political party founders]]