Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Teodoro "Teddy Boy" López Locsin Jr. PLH (born November 15, 1948) is a Filipino politician, diplomat, lawyer, and former journalist serving as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs since October 2018. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2010, representing the 1st district of Makati and later served as the Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018.[2] He was the host of the editorial segment titled "Teditorial" for ANC's nightly newscast The World Tonight[3]

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is López and the surname or paternal family name is Locsin.

The Honorable Teodoro López Locsin Jr. PLH
Locsin at an Asia Society event in New York City on September 2017.
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office October 17, 2018[1]
President	Rodrigo Duterte
Preceded by	Alan Peter Cayetano
20th Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations
In office April 19, 2017 – October 12, 2018
President	Rodrigo Duterte
Preceded by	Lourdes Yparraguirre
Succeeded by	Enrique Manalo
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Makati City's 1st district
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Preceded by	Joker Arroyo
Succeeded by	Monique Lagdameo
Press Secretary
In office March 26, 1986 – September 14, 1987
Preceded by	Alice C. Villadolid
Succeeded by	Teodoro C. Benigno Jr.
Personal details
Born	Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr. (1948-11-15) November 15, 1948 Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	PDP-Laban
Alma mater	Ateneo de Manila University
Occupation	Businessman, journalist, ambassador
Profession	Lawyer, politician, diplomat

Early life

Locsin was born in Manila on November 15, 1948. His father was the prominent newspaperman and publisher Teodoro Locsin Sr. who was hailed from the Locsin family of Molo, Iloilo's Negros Occidental branch.[2] He studied in the Ateneo de Manila University and received a bachelor's degree in Law and Jurisprudence.

Supreme Court nominations

When Senior Associate Justice Leonardo Quisumbing retired from the Supreme Court in 2009, Locsin was among the candidates nominated by the Judicial and Bar Council as a potential replacement. However, he was not appointed to the said post.[4] In 2012, he was nominated as chief justice to replace Renato Corona[5] but the post eventually went to then-Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

United Nations

He was designated as the Philippines' Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017. It was announced that he accepted the appointment on September 18, 2016.[6] His term officially began when he presented his credentials to António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, on April 19, 2017.[7] Under his leadership, the Philippines voted to abstain from the challenge against the legality of the Independent Expert on SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) at a November 2016 session.[8] Also, the Philippines was among 10 nations that voted against a UN resolution urging Myanmar to end its military campaign against Rohingya Muslims living in the Rakhine state in November 2017.[9] Additionally, the country was one of only 35 nations to abstain on the UN vote to declare the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital null and void during an emergency December 2017 session of the UN General Assembly.[9] In March 2018, Locsin submitted the country's letter of withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, after President Duterte expressed his intent to withdraw from the court.[9] Locsin vacated the post of Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations on October 12, 2018 upon assuming the post of foreign affairs secretary.

Foreign Affairs Secretary

Locsin (left) with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in February 2019

On October 11, 2018, Locsin announced that president Rodrigo Duterte offered him the post of Secretary of Foreign Affairs, which was held by Alan Peter Cayetano. Cayetano will run in the 2019 elections for representative of Taguig city, effectively vacating the position.[10] He was sworn in by President Duterte as foreign affairs secretary on October 17, 2018,[1] and his appointment confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on November 28, 2018.[11]

Personal life

Relationships

He is married to Ma. Lourdes Barcelon, who ran for Congress at the First District of Makati for the Liberal Party, but lost to outgoing Councilor Monique Yasmin Lagdameo of PDP-Laban. She ran for such post as her husband is ineligible to seek reelection after three consecutive terms of service.

He was formerly married to Philippine Stock Exchange director Vivian Yuchengco. They have two daughters, Margarita and Bianca.

Social media presence

Locsin frequently uses social media as a platform to air his views. He is pro-death penalty, citing in Twitter that the President should order the mass murder of cops who hurt others. He is also against the usage of indigenous Filipino languages such as Tagalog in debates, rather, he prefers only foreign languages such as English. He has also been criticised for his controversial use of social media.[12]

Career history

• Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2018–present)
• Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018)
• Law Professor at San Beda University (2015–2017)
• Host of #NoFilter on ANC (2016)
• Radio anchor of DZRH Executive Session (2014– Present)
• Segment anchor of The World Tonight's TEDitorial (2011–2017)
• Former host of Assignment on ABS-CBN (1994–2003)
• Publisher and editor-in-chief of Today Newspaper (1993–2005)
• Executive director of Philippine Free Press magazine (1993–2013)
• Publisher of The Daily Globe newspaper (1988–1993)
• Presidential speechwriter of Office of the President (1985–1992)
• Presidential spokesperson, legal counsel and speechwriter, office of Pres. Corazon Aquino of Ministry of Information, Malacañang (1986–1988)
• Locsin was known as the speechwriter of Corazon Aquino, who penned her standing ovation speech at the US Congress (1986)
• Lecturer of US War College (1991)
• Press Secretary (1986–1987)
• Executive assistant to the chairman of Ayala Corporation and Bank of the Philippine Islands (1982–1985)
• Associate of Angara, Abello, Concepcion, Regala and Cruz Law offices (1977–1982)
• Editorial writer of Philippine Free Press (1967–1972)

Political and societal positions

Locsin has found himself at the center of various controversial public statements via the social media platform Twitter.

Filipino language

In late March 2016, he was chastised by internet users over his Twitter comments calling the Tagalog language "inappropriate to pointed debate" during the Visayas leg of PiliPinas Debates 2016.[13] He later defended his comments concerning the use of Tagalog in debates.[14]

Philippine Drug War

Locsin expressed support for the Philippine Drug War on August 21, 2017, through Twitter, comparing the campaign against drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte to Adolf Hitler's Final Solution and said he does not believe in the rehabilitation of drug addicts.[15] He followed this with another remark that the "Nazis were not all wrong" and said people should keep an open mind drawing criticism.[16] He cited Hitler's military and economic policies that "are paying off even now in German primacy in Europe" but conceded that the Holocaust "wiped out his economic contribution."[17] Locsin later retracted these remarks by deleting the tweet, however threatened individuals who criticized him.[15]

Rape as a heinous crime

On February 20, 2017, the majority bloc members of the House of Representatives caucused to remove rape from the list of possible death penalty offenses.[18] When the official Twitter account of the ABS-CBN News Channel reported this, Locsin tweeted a reply:[19]

Locsin in a tweet said that while rape is a crime; an "indignity" and "outrage" it is not a heinous crime. Though he went on to mention select cases of rape as "heinous" such as a gang rape in India and an incident where the rapist is an ugly man. He then said that killing is not heinous or premeditated saying its a common crime. His posts were criticized by some users of Twitter.[19]

Philippine Rise

On February 14, 2018, Locsin tweeted that criticizers of the Chinese names imposed by China on the Philippine Rise, which have been recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization, are 'childish and stupid', sparking a word war on the issue. Criticizers noted that Locsin is the current ambassador to the United Nations and should be one the first to defend the Philippines' sovereignty and sovereign rights. Locsin did not reply afterwards.[20][21][22][23]

Sabah

On July 27, 2020, a tweet by the Embassy of the United States to the Philippines regarding the donation of hygiene kits by Filipino expatriates from Sabah indicated that Sabah belongs to Malaysia. Locsin quoted the tweet and replied that "Sabah is not in Malaysia".[24] In response, on July 29, the foreign minister of Malaysia, Hishammuddin Hussein, called Locsin's remarks irresponsible and damaging to bilateral ties, and summoned the Philippine ambassador to Malaysia, Charles Jose.[25] In response, on July 30, Locsin also summoned the Malaysian ambassador to the Philippines, Norman Muhamad.[26] The Philippines has a claim to much of eastern Sabah, the entirety of which is considered as Malaysian territory.

Support of gasoline as a disinfectant

On August 1, 2020, Locsin quoted a tweet by radio and television personality Mo Twister criticizing President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks about using gasoline as a disinfectant for face masks. Locsin asked the radio and television personality "...what if he's [Duterte] right? Seriously, bro." He added that he knew of people in small towns who used to kill head lice by dropping them into kerosene.[27]

See also

• List of foreign ministers in 2018
• List of current foreign ministers
• Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)

References

1. "Duterte to DFA Sec. Teodoro Locsin: 'Be truthful to foreign leaders'". The Philippine Star. October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
2. "Locsin, Teodoro Jr | Personal Information". i-site.ph. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
3. "Teditorial". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
4. Purple Romero (June 14, 2012). "Teddy Boy Locsin nominated for chief justice". Rappler. Retrieved May 12, 2016.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
5. Lorenz Niel Santos and Karl John Reyes (June 14, 2012). "InterAksyon columnist Teddyboy Locsin among 14 nominees to Chief Justice post". Interaksyon. Retrieved May 12, 2016.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
6. "Teddy Locsin Jr. is new envoy to UN". ABS-CBN News. September 18, 2016.
7. "New Permanent Representative of Philippines Presents Credentials". United Nations. April 19, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
9. "How the Philippines voted at UN with Locsin". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
10. Ranada, Pia. "Duterte offers Teodoro Locsin Jr foreign secretary post". Rappler. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
11. "DFA Sec Locsin hurdles Commission on Appointments". ABS-CBN News. November 28, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
12. Leloy Claudio (May 14, 2012). "Teddyboy's homicidal view of politics". GMA News. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2016.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
13. Rap Torres (March 21, 2016). "Netizens irked by Teddy Locsin’s remarks on #PiliPinasDebates2016". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
14. Rose Carmelle Lacuata (March 21, 2016). "After drawing flak, Teddy Locsin Jr. defends 'Tagalog' comment". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved March 24, 2016.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
15. Pocholo Concepcion (October 4, 2016). "Teddyboy's tweet sparks word war". Philippine Daily Inquirer.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
16. Katerina Francisco (October 1, 2016). "Look Back: Hitler and the Holocaust". Rappler.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
17. Katerina Francisco (August 2, 2016). "Look Back: Hitler and the Holocaust". Rappler.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
18. Cruz, Rg (February 20, 2017). "House majority drops rape from crimes punishable by death". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
19. Valencia, F. (February 21, 2017). "Teddy Locsin Jr. Draws Flak For Tweeting 'Rape Is Not A Heinous Crime'". Cosmopolitan Philippines. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
23. Santos, Eimor P. (February 14, 2018). "Palace: PH won't recognize Chinese names of Benham Rise features". CNN Philippines. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
24. "Sabah not in Malaysia? Locsin blasts US Embassy's 'Sabah, Malaysia' photo caption". ABS-CBN News. July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
25. "Malaysia to summon PH ambassador over Locsin's Sabah tweet". Rappler. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
26. "Tit-for-tat: DFA chief to summon Malaysian envoy over Sabah issue". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
27. "https://twitter.com/teddyboylocsin/status/1289349383662772224". Twitter. Retrieved August 1, 2020. External link in |title= (help)

House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by Joker Arroyo	Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Makati City's 1st District 2001–2010	Succeeded by Monique Lagdameo
Political offices
Preceded by Alice C. Villadolid	Press Secretary 1986–1987	Succeeded by Teodoro C. Benigno Jr.
Preceded by Alan Peter Cayetano	Secretary of Foreign Affairs 2018–present	Incumbent
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Lourdes Yparraguirre	Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations 2017–2018	Vacant
Order of precedence
Preceded by Diosdado Peralta as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines	Order of Precedence of the Philippines as Secretary of Foreign Affairs	Succeeded by Ambassadors to the Philippines (in order of tenure)
		Succeeded by Gabriele Giordano Caccia as Dean of the diplomatic corps