Esperon’s marching orders: Crush Reds

The Philippine Star 07/13/2006

President Arroyo has given incoming Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon his marching orders: Crush the 37-year-old communist rebellion and the groups plotting to destabilize the administration.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. said Esperon was chosen by the President not only for his track record, but also for his decisiveness in crushing destabilization attempts.

"Of course his loyalty to the Republic, his loyalty to the Constitution and the commander-in-chief is beyond question," Ermita said.

Esperon was also ordered to help in the peace efforts with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and upgrade the Armed Forces’ counterterrorism capability, Cruz said.

Ermita, for his part, said Esperon will assume the top Armed Forces post "at a time when the destabilizers, especially the adventurists in the military had been accounted for and neutralized except for a few."

"The President wants General Esperon to ensure the usual vigor and unity of the Armed Forces as a tool of government in neutralizing all the detractors that will destabilize the national security situation," he said.

Cruz said the "general marching orders" which Mrs. Arroyo has given to Esperon are to crush the New People’s Army (NPA) "in a timetable that is achievable, and to set an internal goal to defeat the insurgency in the critical areas."

Other tasks given to Esperon are to ensure the implementation of the multi-year Philippine Defense Reform program, strengthen the military’s professionalism and improve the mission capability of the Armed Forces, he added.

Ermita said Esperon would be able to unify the Armed Forces as he is well received and respected by military officers and their men.

"He is a highly qualified officer, tested in combat, tested in addressing the destabilizers and steady as a senior officer, steady in his demeanor and making decisions to be able to control the AFP, and of course his loyalty to the Republic, his loyalty to the Constitution and to the commander-in-chief is beyond question," he said.

Ermita said under Esperon’s leadership, the Armed Forces would be insulated from politics and adventurism.

Replacing Esperon as Army chief would be Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command chief, Ermita said.

Meanwhile, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has welcomed the appointment of Esperon, as the next Armed Forces chief.

"We welcome his appointment, but that is an internal matter to the AFP," MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu told The STAR.

"We are looking at Esperon in the sense that he could hopefully help in bringing about peace in Mindanao because he has a better background on what is happening in the south."

Kabalu said the MILF is banking on Esperon’s wealth of experience, having served in various capacities in Mindanao, including being commander of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade based in North Cotabato.

"Esperon understands Mindanao better," he said.

"But we just hope he would use his experience in Mindanao in such a way that it would have a positive impact on the ongoing peace process between the government and the MILF."

On the other hand, Presidential Management Staff chief Arthur Yap described the appointment of Esperon as an expected move by Mrs. Arroyo.

"He is the logical choice," he told The STAR in an earlier interview.

Esperon comes from the largest branch of the AFP, and it would just be logical for him to become AFP chief, Yap said.

Meanwhile, reports said Esperon’s appointment as AFP chief would trigger a "massive movement" in the Army’s command echelon.

Tolentino, Esperon’s classmate at PMA, will reportedly be briefly replaced by Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, Army 7th Infantry Division commander, who is retiring this year.

Also, unconfirmed reports claimed that former Presidential Security Group commander Brig. Gen. Delfin Bangit is slated to be named as Army 2nd Infantry Division commander based at Camp Capinpin in Tanay.

Maj. Gen. Alexander Yano, incumbent 2nd division commander is reportedly being groomed to either become Armed Forces Southern Command or the Southern Luzon Command chief.

Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon and Lt. Gen. Pedro Cabuay, Southcom and Solcom commanders respectively are due for retirement this year.

A PMA Class of 1974 graduate, Esperon started his military career as a platoon leader of Bravo Company, 23rd Infantry Battalion in Lamitan, Basilan right after graduation.

He later moved up as company commander of the same unit, the strike force of the Armed Forces Southwestern Command (Sulu-Basilan-Zamboanga).

Later he was designated as commander of the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion in Tungao, Agusan del Norte, where he dismantled NPA fronts in 1992.

From Lanao del Norte, Esperon took over command of the 602nd Infantry Brigade in Carmen, Cotabato at the height of the military offensive against the MILF.

It was during Esperon’s stint as 602nd Brigade commander when Camp Rajahmudah in Liguasan Marsh fell to the government.

In June 2001, in the wake of the Dos Palmas kidnappings, Esperon was pulled out from Cotabato to command the 103rd Infantry Brigade in Basilan and was instrumental in the rescue and recovery of most of those held by the Abu Sayyaf.

In 2002, President Arroyo named him Presidential Security Group commander.

Esperon got his first star at the PSG.

He later earned his second star after he was designated as AFP deputy chief of staff for Operations in February 2003.

In July 2004, Esperon assumed command of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay.

He was later promoted to command the Army’s Special Operations Command, the first Echelon National Maneuver Force, also based at Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija.

In 2005, Esperon was appointed by Mrs. Arroyo to be the Army’s 47th commanding general.

A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Merit in 1998 for his distinguished and exemplary service to the Republic, Esperon is also a recipient of two Philippine Legion of Honor Medals, nine Distinguished Service Star, four Gold Cross Medals, six Bronze Cross Medals, numerous military merit medals and commendations.

He also earned the Cavalier Award in 2003 for being adjudged as outstanding alumnus of PMA.

Esperon is married to the former Lorna Leaño-Valenzuela, a medical doctor.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Esperon can still "prove his worth" as AFP chief despite being implicated in alleged electoral fraud in the 2004 elections.

"If Esperon was involved in the ‘Garci’ tapes, the easy answer is that most people would believe we will have more of the same tainted service," he said.

However, there is no conclusive proof that Esperon was guilty of the allegations, he added.

The Senate has yet to end its inquiry into the "Hello Garci" scandal. –Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado, Jaime Laude, Marvin Sy