Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr. (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. 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.



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 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:


 * Philippines Presidential Unit Citation.png Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
 * AFP Long Service Medal.gif Long Service Medal
 * PHI Order of Lakandula Grand Cross BAR.svg Order of Lakandula Grand Cross (Bayani) President of the Philippines, 2010
 * Yudha Dharma Nararya Rib.png 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.png Presidential Medal of Merit, 1998
 * PMA Cavalier Award (as outstanding alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy)
 * PHL Distinguished Service Star BAR.svg Eleven Distinguished Service Star
 * PHI Legion of Honor 2003 Officer BAR.svg Four Philippine Legion of Honor
 * PHL Outstanding Achievement Medal.PNG Two Outstanding Achievement Medal (OAM)
 * PHL Gold Cross.png Four Gold Cross Medals
 * PHL Bronze Cross.gif Bronze Cross Medals
 * Three Command Plaque
 * PHL Gawad Sa Kaunlaran.gif Gawad sa Kaunlaran Award
 * Three Outstanding Service Awards
 * Plaque of Merit
 * PHL Military Commendation.gif Military Commendation Medal
 * Luzon Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal.png Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal
 * PHL Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal ribbon.png Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
 * Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal.png 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.gif Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon
 * PHL Military Civic Action Medal.gif - Military Civic Action Medal

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.



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).

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.