Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr. | Create Your Badge
Video Introduction of Jun Esperon
SECRETARY HERMOGENES C. ESPERON JR.
Presidential Management Staff
A native of Asingan, Pangasinan, Secretary Hermogenes Cendaña Esperon Jr. is the current Director-General of the Presidential Management Staff and Chairman of the Pro-Performance System Steering Committee (PPS-SC), the body that monitors the government’s major infrastructure projects. Since he assumed in February 2009, he has been facilitating the completion of the linkages between the major freeways in the country such as the South and North Luzon Expressways, integrating them into the Luzon Urban Beltway.
Prior to this, Secretary Esperon was the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, wherein he oversaw the review of the Philippine peace process and the shift of the peace paradigm from negotiations with armed groups to dialogues with authentic communities. Having been assigned nine times in Mindanao throughout his military career, he fully supported the peace process, knowing that the problem could not be solved by military approach. Still, he was steadfast in his belief that the Mindanao conflict should never be exploited by terrorist elements. In fact, he commanded the brigade that recovered most of the hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) from the Dos Palmas Kidnappings.
Secretary Esperon served former President Fidel V. Ramos as the Deputy Commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in 1996, and Her Excellency President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo as Commander of the PSG in 2002.
Other key military posts held by Secretary Esperon were as AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in 2003, wherein he supervised the completion of the integration of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to the military, in the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement, and crafted the directive to operating troops to uphold the “Primacy of the GRP-Moro Islamic Liberation Front Peace Process”. He also commanded the 7th Infantry Division, and the Special Operations Command. In 2005, he took the helm of the Philippine Army, and became the AFP Chief of Staff in 2006. Among his most significant accomplishments include the establishment of the AFP National Development Support Command, tasked to promote development in the countryside; the activation of the AFP Human Rights Office to protect human rights; reversing the growth of CPP-NPA guerilla fronts from a peak of 107 to 83; and overseeing the anti-ASG operations that led to the demise of chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and its other top commanders.
He was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor Award Degree of Commander by President Arroyo and the Presidential Merit Medal by former President Ramos. He earned nine Distinguished Service Stars for major positions held, three Gold Cross medals for gallantry in combat, among others. He was conferred the Cavalier Award and the Lagablab Award as an Outstanding Alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine Science High School, respectively. The President of Indonesia and the King of Malaysia also gave him grand military awards for his meritorious service and achievements.
Secretary Esperon is happily married to Dr. Lorna Valenzuela.
Education
- Masters Degree in Management
- General Staff Course, AFP
- Integrated Svc Attache Course – Foreign Service Institute
- Bachelor of Science, Philippine Military Academy, 1974
- Philippine Science High School, 1970
- North Central Elementary School – Asingan, Pangasinan, 1965
Positions Held
- Secretary, Presidential Management Staff, 2009
- Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, 2008
- Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, 2006
- Commanding General, Philippine Army, 2005
- Commanding General, Special Operations Command, PA, 2004
- Commanding General, 7th Infantry Division, PA, 2004
- Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3, AFP, 2003
- Commanding General, Presidential Security Group, 2002
- Assigned Nine (9) times in Mindanao (Platoon/Company/Batallion & twice as Brigade Commander)
Awards & Recognitions
- Philippine Legion of Honor Award Degree of Commander
As Chief of Staff, AFP:
- Nine (9) Distinguished Service Stars for outstanding performance in positions for General
- Two (2) Philippine Legion of Honor Degree of Officer for Outstanding accomplishment as Commander of Presidential Security Group in 2002 and Chief of Task Force APEC in 1996
- Three (3) Gold Cross Medals for Gallantry in Combat
- Military Merit Medals for combat and administrative positions
- PMA Cavalier Award, as Outstanding Alumnus of PMA
- PMA Achievement Award
- Lagablab Award as an Outstanding Alumnus of the Philippine Science High School
- Grand Military Awards conferred by the President of Indonesia
- Grand Military Awards conferred by the King of Malaysia
Videos & Multimedia resources
Jun Esperon (Part 1)
Jun Esperon (Part 2)
Jun Esperon (Part 3, closing remarks)
Endorsement from President Ramos
