Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr. is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the National Security Adviser in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022. 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 Office of the Presidential Adviser [on the Peace Process|Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process] and later as the head of the Presidential Management Staff.
File:President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the Joint 68th NSC and 69th NICA Founding Anniversary Celebration at the PICC in Pasay City on July 31, 2018. 05.jpg|thumb|President Rodrigo Duterte 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.
Professional experience
Esperon's professional government experience includes:- Presidential Management Staff, 2009-2010
- , 2008
- AFP Chiefs of Staff|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,, 2004
- Deputy chief of staff for operations, 2003-2004
- Group commander, Presidential Security Group (PSG), AFP, 2002-2003
- 103rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, PA, 2001
- 602nd Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division, PA, 2000-2001
- Assistant chief of staff for operations, 1999-2000
- Chief, Joint Operations Center, General Headquarters, AFP, 1998-1999
- Deputy group commander, AFP, 1996–1998.
- Commander Presidential Escorts, AFP, 1997-1998 Concurrent
- Task Group Commander, Task Force Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), 1996
- Chief of Intelligence Staff, Southern Command, AFP, 1995-1996
- Deputy for Operations, 1993
- Battalion Commander, 30th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, 1991 -1993
- Commander, Counterintelligence Group, PA, 1990-1991
- Staff, Southern Command, AFP, 1989-1990
- Intelligence Staff Chief, 7th Infantry Division, PA, 1987-1989
- National Intelligence and Security Authority, 1977- 1982
- Commander, B Co., 36th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, 1975-1977
- Platoon Leader, B Co., 23rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, 1974 -1975
- Cadet, Philippine Military Academy (PMA), 1970-1974
Education and training
Esperon's education and training include:- Philippine [Science High School Main Campus|Philippine Science High School], 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
- Infantry Officer Advance Course, 1986
- Master's in Management studies with a major in Public Administration, Philippine Christian University, 1995
- Joint Services Command and General Staff Course, AFP, 1996
Awards and recognition
Esperon's awards include:- Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
- Long Service Medal
- Order of Lakandula Grand Cross President of the Philippines, 2010
- Order of Lakandula Grand Cross, President of the Philippines, 2022
- Presidential Award of the Yudha Dharma, Republic of Indonesia, 2009
- King's Award of Malaysia, 2007
- , Philippine Science High School, 2001
- Presidential [Medal of Merit (Philippines)|Presidential Medal of Merit], 1998
- PMA Cavalier Award, 1999
- Eleven Distinguished Service Star
- Four Philippine Legion of Honor
- Two Outstanding Achievement Medal
- 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 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
- - Military Civic Action Medal
Present affiliations
- , , September 2022 to date
- Consultant, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., 2015-2016
- Consultant , 2012-2016
- Partner, , 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 2010 [Philippine House of Representatives elections|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.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.