Leoncio "Jun" Badilla Evasco Jr. (born March 29, 1944) is a Filipino politician who served as Secretary of the Cabinet from 2016 to 2018 and is currently the Presidential Adviser on Streamlining of Government Processes under the

Duterte administration Rodrigo Duterte became the 16th President of the Philippines on June 30, 2016, succeeding Benigno Aquino III. He was the first president from Mindanao, the first president to have worked in all three branches of government, and the oldes ...

since 2020. Before he was appointed as the Cabinet secretary, he was the Mayor of Maribojoc town in

Bohol Bohol (), officially the Province of Bohol ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Bohol; tl, Lalawigan ng Bohol), is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of the island itself and 75 minor surrounding islands. It ...

from 2007 to 2016. He was an ordained priest, being ordained in 1970, when he joined the

Communist Party of the Philippines The Communist Party of the Philippines ( fil, Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas) is a far-left, Marxist-Leninist-Maoist revolutionary organization and communist party in the Philippines, formed by Jose Maria Sison on 26 December 1968. It is des ...

and its armed wing, the

New People's Army The New People's Army ( fil, Bagong Hukbong Bayan), abbreviated NPA or BHB, is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), based primarily in the Philippine countryside. It acts as the CPP's principal organization, aimi ...

, in 1974.

Early life and education

Evasco was born in Maribojoc in Bohol province on March 29, 1944. He finished his AB degree in Philosophy and Theology in Seminario Mayor de San Carlos in

Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu ( ceb, Dakbayan sa Sugbo; fil, Lungsod ng Cebu; hil, Dakbanwa sang Sugbo), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines and capital of the Cebu Province. A ...

in 1966 and 1970, respectively. He obtained a master's degree in

Ateneo de Davao University , mottoeng = Strong in Faith , type = Private school, Private Roman Catholic, Catholic Research Non-profit Coeducational Basic and Higher education institution , established = , founder ...

Career

Evasco was ordained a priest in 1970. He was assigned as priest in Dauis,

Baclayon Baclayon, officially the Municipality of Baclayon ( ceb, Munisipalidad sa Baclayon; tgl, Bayan ng Baclayon), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 22,461 people. ...

and

Catigbian Catigbian, officially the Municipality of Catigbian ( ceb, Munisipyo sa Catigbian; tgl, Bayan ng Catigbian), is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 23,805 people. ...

all in

. A raid by soldiers in his convent in Catigbian in 1974 pushed him to join the underground

and its armed wing, the

. In 1983 he was caught while presiding over the wedding of a comrade in

Midsayap Midsayap, officially the Municipality of Midsayap (Maguindanao language, Maguindanaon: ''Inged nu Midsayap'', Jawi Alphabet, Jawi: ايڠايد نو ميدسايڤ; Iranun language, Iranun: ''Inged a Midsayap'', ايڠايد ا ميدسايڤ; ...

North Cotabato Cotabato or North Cotabato ( hil, Aminhan Cotabato; ceb, Amihanang Cotabato; Maguindanaon: ''Pangutaran Kutawatu'', Jawi: ڤڠوترن كوتاواتو; fil, Hilagang Cotabato), officially the Province of Cotabato, is a landlocked province in ...

. He was tortured and four of his those arrested with him was summarily executed. Evasco was prosecuted by then prosecutor

Rodrigo Duterte Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945), also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson ...

for rebellion. Following the

EDSA People Power Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of ...

he was one of the political detainees ordered released from jail by then President

Cory Aquino Maria Corazon "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; ; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipina politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992. She was the most prominent figure of the 1986 People ...

. After his release, Evasco worked as secretary general of Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto. He served as campaign manager of Duterte when he run in 1988 mayoral elections. He served as OIC of the city engineer's office from 1989 to 1990. Evasco headed the economic enterprise office before being appointed as chief of staff of Duterte.

Maribojoc Mayor

Evasco ran for mayor of Maribojoc in 2007 and won despite being away from the town for 3 decades. He won re-election in 2010 and 2013. Under his leadership Maribojoc received the Galing Pook award for 2011 for its Cadastral Survey and Simultaneous Systematic Adjudication Project. The town was also conferred the Seal of Good Housekeeping by the

Department of the Interior and Local Government The Department of the Interior and Local Government ( fil, Kagawaran ng Interyor at Pamahalaang Lokal), abbreviated as DILG, is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public sa ...

in 2010 and 2011. In the wake of the

2013 Bohol earthquake The 2013 Bohol earthquake occurred on October 15 at in Bohol, an island province located in Central Visayas, Philippines. The magnitude of the earthquake was recorded at 7.2, with epicenter of Sagbayan, and its depth of focus was . It aff ...

he was involved in a controversy with

Philippine Red Cross The Philippine Red Cross (PRC; fil, Krus na Pula ng Pilipinas) is a non-profit humanitarian organization and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The PRC was established in 1947, with roots in the Philippine Rev ...

volunteers regarding the distribution of relief goods to the victims. The controversy led to the prevention of Red Cross volunteers from entering Maribojoc.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evasco, Leoncio Jr. 1944 births 20th-century Filipino Roman Catholic priests Filipino activists Living people Cabinet Secretaries of the Philippines Chairpersons of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council of the Philippines Mayors of places in Bohol People from Bohol University of San Carlos alumni Ateneo de Davao University alumni Duterte administration cabinet members Marcos martial law victims