Mikee Romero

The Honorable
Mikee Romero
The Honorable Mikee Romero
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives
	In office; October 14, 2020 – June 1, 2022 Serving with several others
House Speaker	Lord Allan Velasco
Preceded by	Luis Raymund Villafuerte
	In office; August 13, 2019 – October 2, 2020
House Speaker	Alan Peter Cayetano
Succeeded by	Fredenil Castro
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 1-Pacman party-list
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; June 30, 2016 Serving with Enrico Pineda (2016–2022)
Preceded by	Office established
Constituency	Party-list
Personal details
Born	Michael Odylon Lagman Romero; March 21, 1972 (age 52); Manila, Philippines
Political party	1-Pacman
Spouse	Sheila Bermudez (m. 1992)
Children	5
Parent(s)	Reghis Romero II; Lilibeth Lagman-Romero
Education	De La Salle University
Website
Years active	2002–present
Board member of	Globalport 900, Inc.; AirAsia Philippines

Michael Odylon "Mikee" Lagman Romero (Tagalog: [ˈmaɪki roˈmɛɾo]; born March 21, 1972) is a Filipino businessman, politician, and polo player who previously served as a House Deputy Speaker from 2019 to 2022, except for a 12-day period out of office in October 2020 due to a House leadership crisis. He is concurrently serving as a Party-list Representative for 1-Pacman since 2016. He is also the president of the Party-list Coalition, an alliance of more than 50 representatives from various party-lists.^[3] As a businessman, he is currently the chairman and president of Globalport 900, Inc. and owns the NorthPort Batang Pier basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).^[4]^[3] As of December 2018, his declared net worth is ₱ 7.858 billion.^[5] He is the Philippines' richest Congress representative and is among the country's 50 richest persons.^[6]

Business career

Romero serves as Chairman of the Board of Globalport 900, Inc. (PSE: PORT), formerly MIC Holdings Corp, since June 7, 2012. He graduated Bachelor of Arts from De La Salle University (while also played for the university's varsity basketball team) and a Masters in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management. He also holds two doctorate degrees in Business Administration and Political Economics coming from the International Academy of Management and Economics and De La Salle University.^[7]

He is also Chief Executive Officer of Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc., Chairman of Manila North Harbour Port, Inc., Chairman of Mikro-tech Capital, Inc., CEO of Pacifica, Inc. and Vice Chairman of AirAsia Philippines.^[8]

Son of construction magnate Reghis Romero II, Romero worked in venture capital in Singapore before returning home in 2002 to seize country's infrastructure opportunity. He converted family's reclaimed land into Harbour Center Port Terminal, now country's biggest bulk and breakbulk port. He listed his port assets in 2011, with a reverse takeover of listed MIC Holdings, renaming it GlobalPort 900, Inc. He said he wants to build a 'seaport highway' across the Philippines archipelago. He also has 65% stake in Manila North Harbour, country's biggest port, where San Miguel is a partner. Other interests include mining, hotels, a 20% stake in Air Asia Philippines and 15% in Alfred Yao's Zest Airways.

Sports

He captains country's polo team and owns a baseball team (Manila Sharks) and a PBA team (NorthPort Batang Pier).

In polo, he is known for being the founder of the Philippine National Federation of Polo Players.^[9] He is also a polo player, competing for the Philippines at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. He competed in the 0-2 goals event.^[10]

Sports teams

NorthPort Batang Pier (Philippine Basketball Association, 2012–present)
Capital1 Solar Energy (Premier Volleyball League, 2024–present)
AirAsia Flying Spikers (Philippine Super Liga, 2014)
Manila Sharks (Baseball Philippines, 2007–2012)
AirAsia Philippine Patriots (ASEAN Basketball League, 2009–2012)
Harbour Centre Batang Pier/Oracle Residences Titans (Philippine Basketball League, 2004–2010)

Political career

Romero was named as one of the new deputy speakers of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on August 13, 2019.^[11] During a House leadership crisis which began in late September 2020, Romero supported Lord Allan Velasco's speakership bid in accordance with the term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Velasco during the commencement of the 18th Congress. On October 2, Fredenil Castro (Capiz–2nd) challenged the representatives to resign if they cannot cooperate with Cayetano's leadership. Deputy Majority Leader Xavier Jesus Romualdo moved to have Castro replace Romero as a deputy speaker. The motion was approved without objections, removing Romero from the position.^[12]

On October 12, a majority of House members held session at the Celebrity Sports Complex in Quezon City. After they declared the speakership vacant, Romero was one of those who nominated Velasco as speaker.^[13]^[14] Velasco was declared as the new speaker after garnering 186 votes, more than the 151 needed for a majority. However, Cayetano's side questioned the legality of the session.^[15] The next day, Velasco was formally elected in an official session held at the Batasang Pambansa while Cayetano resigned.^[16] On October 14, Romero was again elected as a deputy speaker, replacing the ousted Luis Raymund Villafuerte (Camarines Sur–2nd), a Cayetano ally.^[17]^[18]

Personal life

He and his wife Sheila collect rare Philippine and Southeast Asian art.^[19]

References

^ Celis, Beth (March 21, 2013). "Treasured birthday gift for Romero". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Mañalac, Sheila (July 5, 2014). "MIKEE ROMERO conquers the 'game of kings'". The Manila Times. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Berlanga, Ryniel (June 12, 2019). "Romero is richest congressman, Elago poorest". SunStar. Archived from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ Cepeda, Mara (June 12, 2019). "Mikee Romero, Albee Benitez still richest congressmen in 2018". Rappler. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ Cabico, Gaea Katreena (June 14, 2019). "Who's who: Richest, poorest House lawmakers in 2018". Manila: The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ Punay, Edu (2020-09-19). "Romero remains richest lawmaker". Philstar. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
^ "ROMERO, 1-PACMAN WON'T RENEGE ON VOW". Malaya. April 25, 2016. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
^ "Globalport 900 Inc, PORT:PHS directors and dealings - FT.com". markets.ft.com. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
^ Bonilla, Ramon Rafael (25 November 2019). "Emotions pour in for polo athlete, president Romero". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
^ Reyes, Marc Anthony (25 November 2019). "For son, for parents–inspiration abounds in SEAG". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
^ Diaz, Jess (August 15, 2019). "Recto, 3 others named House deputy speakers". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (October 2, 2020). "Velasco ally Mikee Romero removed as House deputy speaker". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
^ Tolentino, Reina C. (October 12, 2020). "Speakers' seat declared vacant; Velasco nominated speaker". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (October 12, 2020). "Velasco installed as new Speaker in session outside House". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
^ Villamor-Ilano, Marites (October 12, 2020). "186 lawmakers unseat Cayetano, elect Velasco as Speaker". SunStar Philippines. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
^ "House ratifies Velasco's election as Speaker". CNN Philippines. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
^ Ferreras, Vince (October 14, 2020). "Romero back as deputy speaker, replaces Cayetano ally Villafuerte". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (October 14, 2020). "House revamp: Cayetano ally ousted, Romero back as Deputy Speaker". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
^ Tenorio, Bum D. Jr. (March 13, 2011). "Sheila Romero: Blessed for life". philstar.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.