Francis Tolentino

Francis Tolentino
Tolentino in 2020
Senate Majority Leader
In office
May 20, 2024 – June 30, 2025
Preceded byJoel Villanueva
Succeeded byJoel Villanueva
Senator of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 2019 – June 30, 2025
Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee
In office
July 25, 2022 – December 19, 2023
Preceded byRichard Gordon
Succeeded byPia Cayetano
Chair of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee
In office
July 25, 2022 – May 20, 2024
Preceded byRichard Gordon
Succeeded bySonny Angara
Chair of the Senate Local Government Committee
In office
July 22, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Preceded bySonny Angara
Succeeded byJV Ejercito
Chair of the Senate Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement Committee
In office
July 22, 2019 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byJV Ejercito
Succeeded byJV Ejercito
Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs
In office
July 11, 2017 – October 17, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byRonald Llamas
Succeeded byJacinto Paras
6th Chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
In office
July 27, 2010 – October 7, 2015
PresidentBenigno Aquino III
Preceded byOscar Inocentes
Succeeded byEmerson Carlos
Mayor of Tagaytay
In office
January 28, 1994 – June 30, 2004
Preceded byBenjamin Erni
Succeeded byAbraham Tolentino
In office
1986–1987
Officer-in-charge
Appointed byCorazon Aquino
Personal details
BornFrancis Ng Tolentino
(1960-01-03) January 3, 1960
Guinobatan, Albay, Philippines
PartyPFP (2024–present)
Other political
affiliations
PDP (2016–2024)
Independent (2004–2016)
Lakas (1991–2004)
RelationsAbraham Tolentino (brother)
Athena Tolentino (niece)
Aniela Tolentino (niece)
Children3
Alma materAteneo de Manila University (BA, LL.B)
National Defense College of the Philippines (MSNA)
University of Michigan (LL.M)
University of London (LL.M)
Columbia University (LL.M)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
WebsiteOfficial website
NicknameTol
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Rank Brigadier General
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Francis Ng Tolentino (Tagalog pronunciation: [nɐŋ tolɛnˈtino], born January 3, 1960) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as a Senator of the Philippines from 2019 to 2025. He also served as the Senate Majority Leader from 2024 to 2025 and was formerly the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee from 2022 to 2023. Before being elected to the Senate, he served as Chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from 2010 to 2015 and mayor of Tagaytay twice: from 1986 to 1987 as an officer in charge (OIC) in the provisional government, and then elected to three consecutive terms from 1995 to 2004.

Tolentino is the principal author of the senate bill that became the Philippine Maritime Zones Act. This law, which concerns the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea dispute, has been objected by China. As a result, China banned him from entering the country since July 2025.