ILOILO City – With impeachment once again dominating national debate, former Ilonggo Senate president Franklin M. Drilon is releasing a memoir that revisits the country’s most turbulent political and legal battles, drawing on nearly four decades of experience inside government.
Titled Being Frank: A Memoir, the book chronicles Drilon’s 36 years in public service, from the fragile post-martial law years to landmark impeachment trials and major corruption scandals. The memoir will be launched at the Marco Polo Club in Metro Manila at 4 p.m. on February 9, 2026.
In the book, Drilon recounts entering government in 1986 as the country struggled to rebuild democratic institutions amid labor unrest, repeated coup attempts, and a spate of high-profile killings in the 1990s. He details the pressures of serving as labor secretary during waves of strikes, and later as justice secretary when public demand for accountability intensified amid unresolved political violence.
Drilon also revisits his role as executive secretary during the 1992 transition of power, describing the challenge of ensuring a peaceful transfer of leadership in the early years following the restoration of democracy.
A significant portion of the memoir focuses on impeachment, a process Drilon experienced firsthand as a senator-judge in the trials of former president Joseph Estrada and former chief justice Renato Corona. He documents the legal strategies, procedural battles, and key rulings that shaped both historic proceedings.
The former senator also reflects on major corruption cases that, he writes, should never be repeated. These include the Fertilizer Fund scam, the North Rail controversy, the pork barrel scam, and the COVID-19 procurement controversy involving Pharmally, which he cites as examples of how weak oversight and compromised institutions allow abuses of public funds.
Drilon further discusses his political alliances and eventual breaks with Estrada and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, explaining the issues that led to their falling out.
The memoir revisits his legislative work as well, highlighting laws he authored such as the Dual Citizenship Act, the Sin Tax Reform Law, the GOCC Governance Act, and measures liberalizing public services and retail trade.
Drilon said he dedicates the book to the youth, urging them to appreciate the importance of strong institutions, the rule of law, and the consequences of forgetting history.
Being Frank: A Memoir carries a foreword by former chief justice Artemio Panganiban and an afterword by Education Secretary Sonny Angara./PN
