Hermogenes Esperon

Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr.
36th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of The Philippines
In office July 2006 – May 2008
President	Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Preceded by	General Generoso S. Senga
Succeeded by	General Alexander B. Yano
Personal details
Born	Asingan, Pangasinan
Military service
Allegiance	Philippines
Service/branch	Philippine Army
Years of service	1974-2008
Rank	General
Commands	Chief 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

General Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon, Jr. (Philippine Military Academy "Marangal" Class of 1974) retired as the Chief of Staff, the highest position in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). After retiring from military service, he was appointed a member of the Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, initially as the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

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), 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:

• Philippine Science High School, "Pisay Dos" Class of 1970
• Philippine Military Academy "Marangal" Class, 1974
• Jungle Warfare and Mountaintain 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:

• 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 (11) Distinguished Service Star
• Four (4) Philippine Legion of Honor
• Two (2) Outstanding Achievement Award (OAM)
• Four (4) Gold Cross Medals
• Five (5) Bronze Cross Medals
• Three (3) Command Plaque
• Gawad sa Kaunlaran Award
• Three Outstanding Service Awards
• Plaque of Merit
• Grand Military Awards conferred by the President of Indonesia
• Grand Military Awards conferred by the King of Malaysia

Present Affiliations

• Consultant, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., 2015
• Executive Vice President for Administration, Manila Bulletin, 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 in the 6th District of Pangasinan in the past May 2010 elections but lost.

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  Esperon's medical missions

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  Esperon's vision is to have one college graduate in every family

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 Left.

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.

External links

• Jun Esperon's official website: Tapat Maglingkod

• Life Story: Jun Esperon.
• Professional Experience Hermogenes "JUN" Esperon.
• Academic Credentials: Jun Esperon.
• Awards & Recognitions: Jun Esperon.
• Esperon defends his right to run for congress.
• Esperon defends his right to run for congress.
• gmanews.tv, THE PRESIDENT'S GENERAL.
• The Senate discarded the Hello Garci investigation for lack of merit (Please see Sixth paragraph) .