Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr. (; born February 9, 1952) is a retired

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) () is the main, oldest and largest branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), responsible for ground warfare. , it had an estimated strength of 143,100 soldiers The service branch was established on December ...

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

who served as the National Security Adviser in the Cabinet of President

Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assum ...

from 2016 to 2022. He was the

Chief of Staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...

of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) () are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Philippine Army, Army, the Philippine Air Force, Air Force, and the Philippine Navy, Navy (including the P ...

from 2006 to 2008 and Commanding General of the Philippine Army from 2005 to 2006 under President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal-Arroyo (; born April 5, 1947), often referred to as PGMA or GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician who served as the 14th president of the Philippines from Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 2001 to 2010 ...

. After his retirement from the military, he served in Arroyo's administration as the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and later as the head of the Presidential Management Staff.

Professional experience

Esperon's professional government experience includes: * Presidential Management Staff, 2009-2010
Office of The Presidential Adviser on The Peace Process (OPAPP)
2008 * Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of The Philippines (CSAFP), 2006-2008 * Commanding General, Philippine Army (CGPA), 2005-2006 * Special Operations Command (SOCOM), 2004-2005 * 7th Infantry Division, PA, ( Fort Magsaysay,

Nueva Ecija Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( ; ; ; ), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Palayan, while Cabanatuan, its former capital, is the largest Local gove ...

), 2004 * Deputy chief of staff for operations (J3, AFP), 2003-2004 * Group commander, Presidential Security Group (PSG), AFP, 2002-2003 * 103rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, PA (

Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan (; ; ; ), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Basilan Island is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago ...

), 2001 * 602nd Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division, PA (

Carmen, Cotabato Carmen, officially the Municipality of Carmen (; , Jawi: ايڠد نو كرمين; ; ), is a municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 79,140 people. History Carmen derived its n ...

), 2000-2001 * Assistant chief of staff for operations (G3, PA), 1999-2000 * Chief, Joint Operations Center (JOC), General Headquarters, AFP, 1998-1999 * Deputy group commander (PSG), AFP, 1996–1998. * Commander Presidential Escorts (PSG), AFP, 1997-1998 Concurrent * Task Group Commander, Task Force Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), 1996 * Chief of Intelligence Staff, Southern Command ( SOUTHCOM, Currently WESTMINCOM), AFP (

Zamboanga City Zamboanga City, officially the City of Zamboanga (; ; Subanen languages, Subanen: ''Bagbenwa Sembwangan''; Sama–Bajaw languages, Sama: ''Lungsud Samboangan''; ; ; ) is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city i ...

), 1995-1996 * Deputy for Operations (G3, PA), 1993 * Battalion Commander, 30th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division ( Agusan), 1991 -1993 * Commander, Counterintelligence Group, PA, 1990-1991 * Staff, Southern Command ( SOUTHCOM, Currently WESTMINCOM), AFP (

), 1989-1990 * Intelligence Staff Chief, 7th Infantry Division, PA ( Currently Northern Luzon Command - NoLCom, Camp Aquino, Tarlac), 1987-1989 * National Intelligence and Security Authority ( Currently National Intelligence Coordinating Agency - NICA), 1977- 1982 * Commander, B Co., 36th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Basilan,

Sulu Sulu (), officially the Province of Sulu (Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Wilaya' sin Lupa' Sūg''; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago. It was part of the Bangsamoro, Bangsamoro Autonomous R ...

, Zamboanga), 1975-1977 * Platoon Leader, B Co., 23rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Basilan, Sulu), 1974 -1975 * Cadet, Philippine Military Academy (PMA), 1970-1974

Education and training

Esperon's education and training include: * Philippine Science High School
"Pisay Dos"
Class of 1970 * Philippine Military Academy "Marangal" Class, 1974 * Jungle Warfare and Mountain Operations Course, Philippine Army, 1973 * Infantry Officer Basic Course, 1974 * Intelligence Officer Basic Course, ISAFP, 1976 * Integrated Service Attache Course, DFA, 1981 * Master's in Business Administration,

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; ) is a Higher education in the Philippines#State universities and colleges, state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by List of Philippine laws, Re ...

, 1981-1982 (DNF) * Infantry Officer Advance Course, 1986 * Master's in Management,

Philippine Christian University The Philippine Christian University (PCU) is a private, Protestant, and coeducational basic and higher education institution located in Ermita, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1946 through the initiatives of the laymen of the Evangelical ...

, 1995 * Joint Services Command and General Staff Course, AFP, 1996

Awards and recognition

Esperon's awards include: * Philippines Presidential Unit Citation

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States ...

Long Service Medal * PHI Order of Lakandula Grand Cross BAR

Order of Lakandula The Order of Lakandula () is one of the highest civilian orders of the Philippines, established on September 19, 2003. It is awarded for political and civic merit and in memory of Lakandula’s dedication to the responsibilities of leadership ...

Grand Cross (Bayani) President of the Philippines, 2010 (As Presidential Peace Adviser and Head Presidential Management Staff - Cabinet Rank) * PHI Order of Lakandula Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross (Bayani), President of the Philippines, 2022 (as NSA 2016-2022) * Yudha Dharma Nararya Rib

Presidential Award of the Yudha Dharma, Republic of Indonesia, 2009 * King's Award of Malaysia, 2007
Lagablab Award
Philippine Science High School, 2001 * PHL Blue White Red

Presidential Medal of Merit, 1998 * PMA Cavalier Award (as outstanding alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy), 1999 * PHL Distinguished Service Star BAR

Eleven Distinguished Service Star * PHI Legion of Honor 2003 Officer BAR

Four

Philippine Legion of Honor The Philippine Legion of Honor (; ) was established by President Manuel Roxas, through Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947. The Philippine Legion of Honour, Honor was patterned after the Legion of Merit of the United States of Amer ...

Two

Outstanding Achievement Medal The Outstanding Achievement MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 23. is a single grade decoration of the Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archi ...

(OAM) *

Four Gold Cross Medals * PHL Bronze Cross

Five

Bronze Cross Medal The Bronze Cross MedalThe AFP Adjutant General, ''AFP Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 29. is a single grade military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which is awarded for "heroism involving risk of life" under c ...

s * Three Command Plaque * PHL Gawad Sa Kaunlaran

Gawad sa Kaunlaran The Gawad sa Kaunlaran () is awarded by the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Area Command, and Major Service Commanders to Philippine citizens. It is the second highest distinction presented by the Armed Forces of the Philip ...

Award * Three Outstanding Service Awards * Plaque of Merit * PHL Military Commendation

Military Commendation Medal * Luzon Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal

Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal * PHL Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal ribbon

Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal *

Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal * Grand Meritorious Military Order Star 1st Class Indonesia, 2007 * Grand Military Awards conferred by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia *

Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon * PHL Military Civic Action Medal

- Military Civic Action Medal

Present affiliations

Chairman of the Board of DirectorsPhiltrust Bank
September 2022 to date * Consultant, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., 2015-2016 * Consultan
Manila Bulletin
2012-2016 * Partner
RVS 4-Star Maricultured Coral Farms
2012–present * Lifetime member, Philippine Military Courses; Handicap 12

Political career

Esperon ran for a position as

Congressman A member of congress (MOC), also known as a congressman or congresswoman, is a person who has been appointed or elected and inducted into an official body called a congress, typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature. The t ...

in the 6th District of

Pangasinan Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan (, ; ; ), is a coastal Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region of Luzon. Its capital is Lingayen, Pangasinan, Lingayen while San Carlos, Pangasi ...

in the past May 2010 elections but lost.

Controversies

Irked by Partylist Representatives Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza's opposition to his bid to seek a congressional seat in the May polls, outgoing Presidential Management Staff Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. demanded that the two lawmakers, who are also seeking seats in the Senate, to come clean about their links with the underground leftist "legal fronts" known to be connected with the Communist Party of the Philippines - New people's Army (CPP-NPA). Esperon said he was "proud of his achievements as a former Armed Forces’ chief of staff, especially in the government's fight against the communist insurgency".' As the assistant chief of staff for operations, J3 at General Headquarters, AFP; Esperon was implicated during the 2004 alleged election fraud. He was mentioned in taped conversations called the " Garci Tapes" to have worked for the relief of a brigade commander in Lanao who was not sympathetic to then presidential candidate Macapagal-Arroyo. However, his involvement has not been proven.The Senate discarded the Hello Garci investigation for lack of merit (Please see Sixth paragraph)

References

External links

Jun Esperon's official website: Tapat Maglingkod
{{DEFAULTSORT:Esperon, Hermogenes 1952 births Living people Arroyo administration cabinet members Chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Duterte administration cabinet members Filipino generals Grand Crosses of the Order of Lakandula Heads of the Presidential Management Staff of the Philippines Manila Bulletin people National security advisers of the Philippines People from Pangasinan Philippine Christian University alumni Philippine Military Academy alumni Presidential advisers on the peace process of the Philippines Recipients of Gawad sa Kaunlaran Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Merit (Philippines) University of the Philippines alumni