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

Philippine Army The Philippine Army (PA) ( Tagalog: ''Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas''; in literal English: ''Army of the Ground of the Philippines''; in literal Spanish: ''Ejército de la Tierra de la Filipinas'') is the main, oldest and largest branch of the ...

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

who served as the

National Security Adviser A national security advisor serves as the chief advisor to a national government on matters of security. The advisor is not usually a member of the government's cabinet but is usually a member of various military or security councils. National sec ...

in the

Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...

of President

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 ...

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 supporti ...

of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ( fil, Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas) are the military forces of the Philippines. It consists of three main service branches; the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy (including the Marine Corps). The P ...

from 2006 to 2008 and

Commanding General of the Philippine Army The Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA) is the overall commander and senior general of the Philippine Army, the ground warfare branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is normally held by a three-star rank of Lieutenant Gener ...

from 2005 to 2006 under President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal Arroyo (, born April 5, 1947), often referred to by her initials GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician serving as one of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, House Deputy Spe ...

. 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 Fort Ramon Magsaysay, also known as Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation (FMMR) and Fort Mag, is the largest military reservation in the Philippines, and is a key training area of the Philippine Armed Forces. Fort Magsaysay straddles the province ...

Nueva Ecija Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( tgl, Lalawigan ng Nueva Ecija , also ; ilo, Probinsia ti Nueva Ecija; pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Nueva Ecija; Kapampangan: ''Lalawigan/Probinsia ning Nueva Ecija''), is a landlocked province i ...

), 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 ( cbk, Provincia de Basilan; yka, Wilayah Basilanin; tsg, Wilaya' sin Basilan; fil, Lalawigan ng Basilan), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Re ...

), 2001 * 602nd Infantry Brigade,

6th Infantry Division 6th Division may refer to: Infantry divisions * 6th Division (Australia) * 6th Division (Austria) *6th (United Kingdom) Division * Finnish 6th Division (Winter War) *Finnish 6th Division (Continuation War) * 6th Division (Reichswehr) * 6th Divisi ...

, PA (

Carmen, Cotabato Carmen, officially the Municipality of Carmen ( hil, Banwa sang Carmen; ceb, Lungsod sa Carmen; tl, Bayan ng Carmen; mdh, Inged nu Karmin, Jawi: ايڠايد نو كرمين), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cotabato, Philippine ...

), 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 The United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), located in Doral, Florida in Greater Miami, is one of the eleven unified combatant commands in the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning, op ...

, Currently WESTMINCOM), AFP (

Zamboanga City Zamboanga City, officially the City of Zamboanga (Chavacano and es, Ciudad de Zamboanga, Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Dāira sin Sambuangan'', fil, Lungsod ng Zamboanga, ceb, Dakbayan sa Zamboanga), is a city in the Zamboanga Peninsula region ...

), 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 (

, 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: ''Wilāya sin Lupa' Sūg''; tl, Lalawigan ng Sulu), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago and part of the Bangsamoro, Bangsamor ...

, 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 The Philippine Science High School System is a research-oriented and specialized public high school system in the Philippines that operates as an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology. The Philippine Science High S ...

"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; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 200 ...

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

Philippine Christian University The Philippine Christian University (PCU) is a private, Protestant 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 Assoc ...

, 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 mil ...

Long Service Medal * PHI Order of Lakandula Grand Cross BAR

Order of Lakandula The Order of Lakandula ( fil, Orden ni Lakandula) is one of the highest civilian Order (distinction), orders of the Philippines, established on September 19, 2003. It is Award, awarded for political and civic merit and in memory of King Lakandula� ...

Grand Cross (Bayani) President of the Philippines, 2010 * 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 President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese fu ...

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

Eleven

Distinguished Service Star The Distinguished Service Star is the third highest military award of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is awarded for eminently meritorious and valuable service rendered while holding a position of great responsibility. Description of the ...

Four

Philippine Legion of Honor The Philippine Legion of Honor ( fil, Lehiyong Pandangal ng Pilipinas; es, Legion de Honor Filipino) was established by President Manuel Roxas, through Philippine Army Circular No. 60 dated July 3, 1947. The Philippine Legion of Honor was patterne ...

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 awarded by the Secretary of National Defense. Criteria The medal is awarded by ...

(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 con ...

s * Three Command Plaque * PHL Gawad Sa Kaunlaran

Gawad sa Kaunlaran The Gawad sa Kaunlaran ( en, Award in Development) 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 A ...

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

Military Commendation Medal The Military Commendation Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is presented for exemplary execution of military duty. Description The medal is a three-pointed star, made of bronze color ...

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

Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal *

Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal * Grand Military Awards conferred by the President of Indonesia * 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 The Military Civic Action Medal is a military decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is awarded for meritorious achievement in the conduct of humanitarian civic actions in direct support military operations. Criteria The Military C ...

Present affiliations

* Consultant, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., 2015 * Executive Vice President for Administration,

Manila Bulletin The ''Manila Bulletin'' (), (also known as the ''Bulletin'' and previously known as the ''Manila Daily Bulletin'' from 1906 to September 23, 1972, and the ''Bulletin Today'' from November 22, 1972, to March 10, 1986) is the Philippines' largest ...

, 2012–present * 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) 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 term member of parliament (MP) is an equivalen ...

in the 6th District of

Pangasinan Pangasinan, officially the Province of Pangasinan ( pag, Luyag/Probinsia na Pangasinan, ; ilo, Probinsia ti Pangasinan; tl, Lalawigan ng Pangasinan), is a coastal province in the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region of Luzon. Its capit ...

in the past May 2010 elections but lost. esperonpolitics-2

Controversies

Irked by Partylist Representatives

Satur Ocampo Saturnino "Satur" Cunanan Ocampo (born April 7, 1939) is a Filipino politician, activist, journalist, and writer. As party president and first nominee, he led the party-list group Bayan Muna in three successful elections in 2001, 2004, and 2007. ...

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 Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs (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