Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr.[1] (Tagalog: [ˈhɚmohɛnɛs ɛspɛˈron]; born February 9, 1952) is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the National Security Adviser in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022.[2] He was the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 2006 to 2008 and Commanding General of the Philippine Army from 2005 to 2006 under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. 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.

President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. during the Joint 68th National Security Council and 69th NICA Founding Anniversary Celebration at the PICC in Pasay on July 31, 2018.
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Cendaña and the surname or paternal family name is Esperon.

Retired General
Hermogenes Esperon
AFP
Esperon on May 2017
National Security Adviser
In office
June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byCesar Garcia
Succeeded byClarita Carlos
Presidential Management Staff
PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded byCerge Remonde
Succeeded byJulia Abad
Office of Presidential Adviser on Peace Process
PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded byJesus Dureza
Succeeded byAvelino Razon
36th Chief of Staff
of the Armed Forces of The Philippines
In office
2006–2008
PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded byGeneroso Senga
Succeeded byAlexander B. Yano
Commanding General Philippine Army
In office
July 2005 – May 2006
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byGeneroso S. Senga
Succeeded byAlexander B. Yano
Commander AFP Special Operations Command
In office
2004–2005
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded byDelfin Lorenzana
Succeeded byJovenal Narcise
Commander Presidential Security Group
In office
2002–2003
PresidentGloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded byBrigadier General Glenn Rabonza
Succeeded byBrigadier General Delfin Bangit
Personal details
Born
Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr.

(1952-02-09) February 9, 1952
Asingan, Pangasinan, Philippines
Alma materPhilippine Military Academy
University of the Philippines
Philippine Christian University
Military service
AllegiancePhilippine flag Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Years of service1974–2008
RankGeneral General
CommandsChief of Staff,
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Commanding General, Philippine Army
Special Operations Command, PA
7th Infantry Division, PA
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3, AFP
Presidential Security Group, AFP
103rd Infantry Brigade, 1ID, PA
602nd Infantry Brigade, 6ID, PA

Professional experience

Esperon's professional government experience includes:[3]

  • 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), 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), 2001
  • 602nd Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division, PA (Carmen, Cotabato), 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), 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 (Zamboanga City), 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, 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:[4]

  • 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, 1981-1982 (DNF)
  • Infantry Officer Advance Course, 1986
  • Master's in Management, Philippine Christian University, 1995
  • Joint Services Command and General Staff Course, AFP, 1996

Awards and recognition

Esperon's awards include:[5]

  • Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
  • Long Service Medal
  • Order of Lakandula Grand Cross (Bayani) President of the Philippines, 2010
  • Presidential Award of the Yudha Dharma, Republic of Indonesia, 2009
  • King's Award of Malaysia, 2007
  • Lagablab Award, Philippine Science High School, 2001
  • Presidential Medal of Merit, 1998
  • PMA Cavalier Award (as outstanding alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy)
  • Eleven Distinguished Service Star
  • Four Philippine Legion of Honor
  • Two Outstanding Achievement Medal (OAM)
  • Four Gold Cross Medals
  • Five Bronze Cross Medals
  • Three Command Plaque
  • Gawad sa Kaunlaran Award
  • Three Outstanding Service Awards
  • Plaque of Merit
  • Military Commendation Medal
  • Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal
  • 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
  • - Military Civic Action Medal

Present affiliations

Political career

Esperon ran for a position as Congressman in the 6th District of Pangasinan in the past May 2010 elections but lost.

Hermogenes Esperon during a social work in the Sixth District of Pangasinan

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).[6]

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".[7]

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" [8] 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.[9]

References
  1. Life Story: Jun Esperon.
  2. Viray, Patricia Lourdes (June 30, 2016). "Duterte's Cabinet takes oath, holds first meeting". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016.
  3. Professional Experience Hermogenes "JUN" Esperon.
  4. Academic Credentials: Jun Esperon.
  5. Awards & Recognitions: Jun Esperon.
  6. Esperon defends his right to run for congress.
  7. Esperon defends his right to run for congress.
  8. gmanews.tv, THE PRESIDENT'S GENERAL.
  9. The Senate discarded the Hello Garci investigation for lack of merit (Please see Sixth paragraph) .
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