Blas Ople

Blas Ople
17th President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office June 29, 1999 – July 12, 2000[1]
Preceded by	Marcelo Fernan
Succeeded by	Franklin Drilon
17th and 19th President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
In office October 10, 1996 – June 29, 1999
Preceded by	Leticia Ramos Shahani
Succeeded by	John Henry Osmeña
In office July 12, 2000 – June 30, 2001
Preceded by	John Henry Osmeña
Succeeded by	Manuel Villar
22nd Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In office July 16, 2002 – December 14, 2003
President	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded by	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (acting)
Succeeded by	Franklin Ebdalin (acting)
Senator of the Philippines
In office June 30, 1992 – July 16, 2002
Minister of Labor
In office 1972 – February 25, 1986
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Adrian E. Cristobal
Succeeded by	Augusto Sanchez
Secretary of Labor
In office September 16, 1967 – 1971
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Emilio Espinosa, Jr.
Succeeded by	Adrian E. Cristobal
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Bulacan
In office June 30, 1984 – March 25, 1986 Served with: Jesus S. Hipolito Rogaciano M. Mercado Teodulo C. Natividad
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Central Luzon
In office June 12, 1978 – June 5, 1984
Member of the Philippine Constitutional Commission
In office June 2, 1986 – October 15, 1986
President	Corazon Aquino
Personal details
Born	Blas Fajardo Ople (1927-02-03)February 3, 1927 Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippine Islands
Died	December 14, 2003(2003-12-14) (aged 76) Taoyuan, Taiwan
Resting place	Libingan ng mga Bayani 14°31′16″N 121°2′34″E / 14.52111°N 121.04278°E / 14.52111; 121.04278
Political party	Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992–2003)
Other political affiliations	Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (1978–1992) Nacionalista (until 1972)
Spouse	Susana Ople
Children	7, including Susan
Alma mater	Manuel L. Quezon University (BA)
Occupation	Journalist; Politician

Blas Fajardo Ople (February 3, 1927 – December 14, 2003) was a Filipino journalist and politician who held several high-ranking positions in the executive and legislative branches of the Philippine government, including as Senate President from 1999 to 2000, and as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2002 until his death. Perceived as a leftist-nationalist at the onset of his career in public service, Ople was, in his final years, a vocal supporter for allowing a limited United States military presence in the Philippines, and for American initiatives in the War on Terror including the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Ople's most enduring role was his nineteen years as Secretary (later Minister) of Labor and Employment during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, when Philippine labor laws were overhauled through the enactment of the Labor Code of the Philippines that he had helped author.