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Luis Villafuerte

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For his son, see Luis Raymund Villafuerte.
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Robredo and the surname or paternal family name is Villafuerte.
Luis R. Villafuerte, Sr.
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Camarines Sur
In office
June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013
Preceded byArnulfo Fuentebella
Succeeded byLeni Robredo
Constituency3rd District
In office
June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2010
Preceded bySulpicio S. Roco
Succeeded byDato Arroyo
Constituency2nd District
Governor of Camarines Sur
In office
June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2004
Preceded byJose Bulaong
Succeeded byLuis Raymund Villafuerte
In office
March 26, 1986 – June 30, 1992
Preceded byFelix Fuentebella
Succeeded byJose Bulaong
Minister of Trade
In office
1979–1981
Preceded byRoberto Ongpin
Succeeded byPost dissolved (Ministry of Trade merged with Ministry of Industry)
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Camarines Sur
In office
June 30, 1984 – March 25, 1986
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Region V
In office
June 12, 1978 – June 5, 1984
Personal details
Born
Luis Robredo Villafuerte

(1935-08-29)August 29, 1935
Philippines
DiedSeptember 8, 2021(2021-09-08) (aged 86)
Taguig, Philippines
Political partyNacionalista (2018–2021)
Other political
affiliations		NPC (2007–2018)
KAMPI (2004–2007)
LDP (1988–2004)
UNIDO (1984–1988)
KBL (1978–1984)
SpouseNelly Favis-Villafuerte
Children6, including Luis Raymund
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B)
OccupationPublic servant
ProfessionLawyer

Luis Robredo Villafuerte Sr. (August 29, 1935 – September 8, 2021), often referred to by his initials LRV, was a Filipino politician who served as Governor of Camarines Sur for 15 years and as a member of the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2013. He represented Camarines Sur's 2nd district from 2004 to 2010, and the 3rd district from 2010 to 2013.[1]

Early life and education

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Villafuerte was the son of Mariano E. Villafuerte Sr., a lawyer who became a member of the National Assembly of the Philippines during the Commonwealth era and Governor of Camarines Sur during the Japanese occupation.[2]

Villafuerte graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in law and was a member of the Sigma Rho fraternity.[3] He subsequently worked in the private sector as a lawyer, businessman and investment banker based in the United States before becoming Senior Executive Vice President of the Bancom Development Corporation from 1965 to 1974.[2]

Politics

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Villafurte was an assemblyman in the Batasang Pambansa from 1978 to 1986. He also served as the Minister of Trade in the cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos from 1979 to 1981.[4] However, he then broke with Marcos and joined the opposition UNIDO party.[5] While campaigning for him during the 1984 Philippine parliamentary election, his sister-in-law Rosita Villafuerte, who was also the Vice Mayor of Sipocot, Camarines Sur, was assassinated after speaking at a rally.[6]

After Marcos was overthrown in 1986, Villafuerte served as Secretary of Government Reorganization under President Corazon Aquino.[4] In 1988, Villafuerte was elected governor of Camarines Sur, but lost reelection in 1992 to his vice governor, Jose Bulaong. He defeated Bulaong and singer Imelda Papin in 1995 and was reelected in 1998.[7] He defeated singer and actress Nora Aunor to win his third and final term as governor,[8] ending in 2004.[9] At the same time, Villafuerte was the first president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines from 1988 to 1990 and from 1998 to 2004.[10][11] During his tenure, Villafuerte was accused of involvement in the Fertilizer Fund scam, but was acquitted in 2018.[12]

In 2004, he was elected to the House of Representatives representing Camarines Sur and served until 2013.[4] As a legislator, Villafuerte authored 67 bills and laws, including Republic Act 10157, which mandated compulsory kindergarten education.[13] He also supported proposals to split parts of Camarines Sur into a separate province to be called Nueva Camarines, which resulted in a feud with his son and successor as governor, Luis Raymund Villafuerte.[14][15]

In 2013, he ran again for governor but lost to his grandson Miguel Luis Villafuerte, which occurred during a falling-out between the two in which the latter was supported by his father, Luis Raymund. The three reconciled in 2018.[16]

Personal life and death

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Villafuerte was married to Nelly Favis and had six children, including Luis Raymund Villafuerte, who also entered politics.[17]

Villafuerte was the uncle of Jesse Robredo, whom he influenced to enter politics beginning with the mayorship of Naga in 1988. However, the two fell out in 1992 following allegations of corruption and jueteng involving the Villafuertes, which led to Villafuerte disowning Robredo[18] and attempting to have him disqualified from public office multiple times.[19]

Villafuerte died on September 8, 2021, at the St. Luke's Medical Center – Global City, at the age of 86.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "LP to pit Belmonte vs Arroyo for Speaker". Archived from the original on 2010-05-16. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
  2. ^ a b "Ex-Trade minister Luis Villafuerte Sr. dies at 86". Journal News. September 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "Panelo mourns death of ex-CamSur guv Luis Villafuerte Sr". Philippine News Agency. September 10, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Garcia, Maria Angelica (September 8, 2021). "Former CamSur congressman Luis Villafuerte Sr. dies at 86". GMA News Online.
  5. ^ Branigin, William (December 8, 1985). "Opponents of Marcos Struggle for Unity". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ "Deputy mayor killed at election rally". UPI. April 11, 1984. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Villafuerte camp belittles 'Ate Guy'". The Philippine Star. March 4, 2001.
  8. ^ "No more politics for Nora?". The Philippine Star. April 13, 2002.
  9. ^ "Ex-Rep. Villafuerte, longest-serving CamSur governor, dies". Manila Bulletin. September 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "Dating Camarines Sur governor Luis Villafuerte, Sr. pumanaw na". ABS-CBN. September 9, 2021.
  11. ^ "Past Presidents & Chairmen". League of Provinces of the Philippines.
  12. ^ "Sandigan junks Villafuerte's P5-M fertilizer scam case". Philippine Daily Inquirer. July 20, 2018.
  13. ^ "Former CamSur governor Villafuerte, 86". BusinessWorld. September 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "Camarines Sur gov says 'split' author feeding on feud". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 3, 2011.
  15. ^ "Villafuertes face off in Senate hearing on Camarines Sur bill". The Philippine Star. March 23, 2012.
  16. ^ "LRay, Migz pay tribute to late Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte Sr". People Asia. September 9, 2021.
  17. ^ Talabong, Rambo (September 8, 2021). "Bicol political kingpin Luis Villafuerte Sr dies". Rappler.
  18. ^ "Dismay over Leni's endorsements: yes to Pacquiao, Abalos; none for CamSur bets". Rappler. April 25, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  19. ^ "Jesse Robredo's journey back home". Rappler. August 21, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  20. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (September 8, 2021). "Ex-CamSur Rep. Luis Villafuerte Sr. passes away". INQUIRER.net.
[edit]
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from Camarines Sur's 3rd district
2010–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Sulpicio S. Roco
 Member of the House of Representatives
from Camarines Sur's 2nd district
2004–2010 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Jose Bulaong
 Governor of Camarines Sur
1995–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Camarines Sur
1986–1992 		Succeeded by
Jose Bulaong
Government offices
Preceded by Minister of Trade
1979–1981 		Post dissolved
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