15 Facts About Roberto Benedicto

Roberto Salas Benedicto was a Filipino lawyer, ambassador, diplomat, and banker historically most remembered as a crony of President Ferdinand Marcos.

Roberto Benedicto was the Philippines' ambassador to Japan from 1972 to 1978.

Roberto Benedicto, born in La Carlota, Negros Occidental on April 17,1917, was a contemporary of Ferdinand Marcos, becoming his classmate and fraternity brother while studying at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

Roberto Benedicto was Marcos's classmate at the UP Law School, and his Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity brother.

When Marcos became president, Roberto Benedicto became part of his inner circle, one of the few with full access even to the private quarters inside Malacanang Palace.

Marcos would eventually give power-of-attorney to Roberto Benedicto, allowing him to deal with corporations on the Marcoses' behalf.

Roberto Benedicto used PNB to grant loans for his shipping company, Northern Lines, and his sugar business.

Roberto Benedicto's ambassadorship gave him insider knowledge regarding the business interests of the Japanese, which allowed him to arrange lucrative joint-venture operations between Japanese corporations and his own.

Marcos's proclamation of martial law allowed Roberto Benedicto to take control of the Philippine Exchange Company, which monopolized local hacienderos' international trade.

Roberto Benedicto used Philex to buy cheap sugar from local producers and sell it abroad for large profits.

However, Roberto Benedicto was allowed to continue his broadcasts, to serve as the voice of the Marcos dictatorship.

Roberto Benedicto assigned Enrique Romualdez, a relative of the first lady, as chief editor of the paper to ensure that it held the views of the regime.

Roberto Benedicto expanded his media business by acquiring Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation which had five television stations, and nine radio stations.

Roberto Benedicto's growing media empire received government favors from the Marcos administration, with the president granting several Letters of Instruction for Benedicto's benefit.

Roberto Benedicto died on May 15,2000, in Bacolod City, Philippines.