Armed Forces of the Philippines chief receives "QMK" award

MANILA, Aug. 18 (PNA) - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa was awarded the "Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan" (QMK), Quezon province's highest honor, during ceremonies at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City on Friday. 

Joining Dellosa in receiving the prestigious honor was Brig. Gen. Nestor Amador Anonuevo, the deputy chief of staff for operations. 

Col. Arnulfo Burgos, Jr., AFP spokesperson, said both officers were awarded the QMK for their exceptional and meritorious achievements for government service in the military. 

“I’m grateful and honored to be awarded this coveted medal, even more as I receive this from my fellow Quezonians who represent one of the country’s most distinguished statesmen and source of national pride, President Manuel L. Quezon,” Dellosa said. 

This year’s QMK awardees also include Maria Rhodora Perpetua Isabedra Fresnedi and Antonio Fleta for business corporate; Judge Rodoldo Obnamia Jr. for judiciary; photographer George Tapan and Rev. Msgr. Ramon Tiama for culture and arts; Engr. Renato Maza for agriculture; Atty. Manuel Barcelona Jr. for law; and Buenaventura Luces for education. 

Dellosa is a member of the Philippine Military Academy "Matapat" Class of 1979. 

He was born in Bacon, Sorsogon, grew up in Lucena City, Quezon. 

His distinguished military career showcases his high standard of performance and standing leadership, which yielded many successes in his tour of duty both in garrison and in the frontlines. 

Dellosa is a recipient of numerous awards topped by Distinguished Service Star, two Wounded Personnel Medal, two Gold Cross Medal, thirty nine Military Merit Medal, six Bronze Cross Medal, Long Service Medal, Marksmanship Badge Expert,Outstanding Achievement Medal and the coveted PMA Alumni Association Incorporated Outstanding Achievement Award for Military Operations. 

The "QMK" is the highest award given by the Province of Quezon to its model citizens for their outstanding achievements, which greatly contributed to the advancement of interest and welfare development of the province and its people. 

It aims to recognize the exemplary contributions of Quezonians who best exemplify the sterling qualities and virtues of the late President Manuel L. Quezon, regardless of class, creed, and religion. 

The search for "QMK" awardees also hopes to inspire the public to contribute to the building of a just, humane, and better society to every Filipino. 

It is given annually on Aug. 19, the birth anniversary of the deceased president. 

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Philippine News Agency | August 18, 2012 | Article Link

AFP Chief and Japanese official visit Pacific Partnership 2012

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, June 25 (PIA) -- Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief LtGen Jessie D Dellosa and Gen Shigeru Iwasaki, Chief of Staff of the Japanese Self Defense Forces (JASDF) went to Calbayog City in connection with the on-going Pacific Partnership 2012 humanitarian missions on June 21 2012.

The visit of the Japanese military leader is considered another milestone in AFP–JSDF relations that has been strengthened through the years.

Dellosa and Iwasaki met at the Calbayog Pier as they were scheduled to have their tour of the Japanese landing ship tank Oosumi and the USNS Mercy.

Local residents can avail of scheduled ship tours at the USNS Mercy through AFP-USN Public Affairs officers in charge of this activity.

Everyday, since the opening of the PP12 Humanitarian Mission and Disaster readiness enhancement, local folks have been flocking various sites of the Medical Missions and other PP12 activities.

PP12 activities include medical and dental missions, veterinary missions, construction projects, band shows, disaster preparedness symposium, and various subject matter expert exchanges on health care and other disaster related topics.

The US Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador Harry K Thomas, attended the formal launching of PP12 to show the US’ appreciation and gratitude to the Philippines for hosting the PP12 in Samar Island.

The 984-foot USNS Mercy Hospital Ship, anchored off the shores of Calbayog City, will only serve as a platform for surgery operations. No surgical operations will be performed outside the US Naval Hospital Ship. All patients recommended to undergo surgery will be ferried from the Calbayog City Pier to the ship and will stay on board the ship until full recuperated from surgery. (PIA 8, Samar with Lt Col A Lagamon and Lt Cdr M Breedlove) 

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Lt Col A Lagamon/Lt Cdr M Breedlove

Philippine Information Agency 8

June 25, 2012

Article Link

Japanese military chief pays courtesy call on AFP's Dellosa

The military chief of Japan visited the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday to enhance and further promote cooperation between the two Asian countries.

Gen. Shigeru Iwasaki, the chief of the Joint Staff of the Japanese Self-Defense Force, arrived at Camp Aguinaldo this afternoon for a courtesy call on AFP chief of staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa.

Iwasaki and other top Japanese military officials are in the country as part of the Pacific Partnership 2012, a two-week humanitarian mission in Samar, AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos said. 

Also joining PP 2012 is the United States with its premier hospital ship, the USNS Mercy.

Iwasaki and his party will fly to Calbayog City, Samar on Thursday to visit the event where 62 Japanese personnel as well as the Japanese ship Oosumi are conducting medical and dental mission. 

Iwasaki is also expected to visit the headquarters of the Tactical Operations Group 8 of the Philippine Air Force in Tacloban, Leyte.

"The meetings...will most likely center on cooperation between the two armed forces when it comes to further improving preparations and strengthening partnerships in humanitarian assistance and disasterresponse," Burgos said.

The AFP welcomes the visit of Iwasaki for the Philippine military to further enhance its disaster response capabilities, he added. 

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 Abigail C. Kwok | InterAksyon.com | June 20, 2012 | Article Link

Joint task force to replace AFP's metro command

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is creating a joint military task force that would protect the seat of the national government in line with the scheduled abolition next month of the National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM).

AFP chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa said the soon-to-be formed joint military outfit will be headed by a one-star general instead of a two- or three-star general.

“From two, three-star general, siguro magiging one-star general na lang. But still this is in [the] roundtable discussion,” Dellosa said, referring to the NCRCOM's deactivation and the setting up of a new unit.

Dellosa, meanwhile, clarified that the anti-coup unit will not totally go, but only being trimmed into a lean military outfit.

Under a new set up, which Dellosa also said is still under study, the unit is only being downgraded and will have a new name.

“It will no longer be an area command but it will still be based at the NCRCOM... but under a new name,” Dellosa said.

He added the joint military task force will be put in harness in July, upon compulsory retirement of NCRCOM commander Maj. Gen. Tristan Kison.

The NCRCOM was created into an area command in Oct. 13, 2003 or two years following the ascension to power of then President and now detained Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

As the former National Capital Region Command (NCRDC), the unit figured prominently in defeating at least nine coup attempts against the then administration of the late President Corazon Aquino, mother of President Benigno Aquino III.

During the Arroyo regime, the unit was largely credited in defending and securing the seat of political power from military rightists and civil society groups.

Composed of Army, Air Force and Navy personnel, NCRCOM has operational jurisdiction over the entire Metropolitan Manila and nearby provinces.

At present, the soon-to-be deactivated NCRCOM has more or less 1,500 personnel on top of other friendly units from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

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Jaime Laude | The Philippine Star | June 11, 2012 | Article Link

Aquino, Dempsey tackle Scarborough Shoal standoff

Philippine defense and civilian officials on Monday briefed General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, on China’s aggressive posture in the West Philippine Sea and reiterated to him the urgency of the Philippines’ need to have a credible defense in the disputed waters.

Dempsey also called on President Benigno Aquino in Malacañang, where he had “broad discussions” of the standoff between China and the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal and security in the West Philippine Sea with the President and other Philippine officials.

Dempsey arrived in Manila on Sunday after attending a security forum in Singapore where the United States announced details of its new military strategy involving a shift of most of its naval forces to the Asia-Pacific region by the end of the decade.

Malacañang did not tell the media about the meeting between Dempsey and the President, although presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said he had known about Dempsey’s visit since Friday.

No details

Dempsey arrived at 10 a.m., accompanied by US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. With the President were Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

Both Lacierda, who was also at the meeting, and Del Rosario had no details of the discussions to offer to reporters, as they were preoccupied with preparations for the President’s departure for London.

Del Rosario said the President and Dempsey talked mostly about defense and security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States.

The discussions also covered the standoff with China over Panatag Shoal—the Philippines’ name for Scarborough Shoal—and of the Philippines’ pursuit of a peaceful solution to the territorial dispute.

Del Rosario said the discussions included a “reiteration” of the Philippines’ need for “assistance and support” for its efforts to build a “minimum defense posture” in the West Philippine Sea (the Philippines’ name for South China Sea).

He said Dempsey broadly discussed US support for the Philippines’ search for a peaceful resolution of its dispute with China through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

No threat to China

CAMP VISITOR Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, is met at Camp Aguinaldo by Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa. RODEL ROTONI

Lacierda said the meeting between Dempsey and President Aquino should not be a cause of concern for China.

“China should not be threatened,” Lacierda said. Dempsey’s visit, he said, was just a “call on a strategic partner.”

At the Department of National Defense, where Dempsey also came calling yesterday morning, Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta, who is in charge of defense affairs, said he had a brief discussion with the Joint Chiefs chair of the worsening standoff with China at Scarborough Shoal.

Azcueta said he told Dempsey that “China is really aggressive” in its posture at Scarborough Shoal, but that the Philippines was exercising “restraint” as it preferred a peaceful solution to the dispute.

He said Dempsey reiterated the US position that the Scarborough Shoal dispute was also a “concern” for the United States.

Azcueta said he also discussed with Dempsey “information sharing” in real time on the situation at Scarborough Shoal, where two Philippine civilian vessels have been facing off with nearly 100 Chinese vessels since the dispute erupted on April 8.

Freedom of navigation

 

The United States has not taken sides in the dispute, but has said it wants to ensure freedom of navigation in international seas.

Azcueta said Dempsey was aware of the list of military hardware the Philippines submitted in January under an excess defense articles program, but did not make any commitment.

Azcueta said Army chief Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista, Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Alexander Pama and Air Force chief Lieutenant General Lauro Catalino de la Cruz were at the meeting with Dempsey.

Earlier in the day, Dempsey met with Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff
General Jessie Dellosa in Camp Aguinaldo.

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Christine O. Avendaño/Dona Z. Pazzibugan | Philippine Daily Inquirer | June 5, 2012 | Article Link

Appointments of AFP chief, 28 other military officers confirmed

MANILA, Philippines–Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa and 28 other newly-promoted Generals/Flag Officers and two Colonels have been confirmed of their promotions by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Dellosa, who was confirmed of his four-star rank, was confirmed with three-star generals, Lieutenant General Irineo Espino, AFP’s Inspector General, and LtGen Lauro Catalino Dela Cruz, Philippine Air Force (PAF) Commanding General on Wednesday.

Also confirmed of their two-star rank were Major General Raoul  Reyes, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel; MGen Romeo Calizo, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations; MGen Roy Deveraturda, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs; MGen Rey Ardo, Commander of 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; MGen Cipriano Gundao, Commander of PAF Air Logistics Command; MGen Joel Ibañez, Commander of Training and Doctrine Command, PA; MGen Romulo Cabantac Jr., AFP’s Chief Engineer; MGen Edgardo Rene Samonte, Commander of the Air Education and Training Command, PAF; MGen Rolando Tenefrancia, AFP Civil Relations Service Commander; MGen Maximo Caro, Chief of Staff, PA; and MGen Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo, Chief of the Intelligence Service, AFP.

The one-star generals confirmed were Brigadier General Herbert Yambing, BGen Oscar  Lopez, BGen Crisologo Nayve, BGen Danilo Servado, BGen Julius Guillermo, Commodore Abraham  Celzo, BGen Manuel Luis Ochotorena, BGen Leonilo Bongcawil, BGen Romeo Taguinod, BGen Emeraldo Magnaye, BGen Virgilio Hernandez, BGen Hernando Iriberri, BGen Ramon Mateo Dizon, BGen Paulita Cruz, and BGen Normado Sta. Ana Jr.

Two colonels from the Philippine Air Force, Colonel Lauro Tianchon and Col Cresenciano Marquez II were also confirmed of their promotions.

Dellosa was promoted to a rank of General in April this year, or less than four months after he assumed post as AFP chief in December 2011.

“Promotions within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines is a constant, dynamic, and vital process within the organization. This is done to ensure that the right key-players are placed in the forefront to maintain the organization’s growth and development,” Dellosa said in a statement.

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Frances Mangosing | INQUIRER.net | May 31, 2012 | Article Link

More and more women joining AFP

MANILA, March 11 (PNA) -- More and more women are joining the military, sharing their collective expertise for the good of the organization, the country and the Filipino people.


Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Dennis D. Dellosa even cited the increasing role of women in celebrating the International Women’s Month in the predominantly male military organization.


This year’s national celebration of the women’s month circles around the theme, “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everybody’s Responsibility.” It is the government’s recognition of the renewed role of women in environmental, political, and other social reforms.


Today, the AFP has 1,054 female officers and 2,905 female personnel who enjoy the same privileges, facilities for growth and achievement in defending the freedom that their predecessors have fought for and won with their lives.


There are women combat pilots in the Philippine Air Force (PAF) where it was dominated by men before.


“Our female soldiers’ role in engaging various stakeholders (is) to cooperate and participate in our internal security operations,” Dellosa said.


He said women soldiers were also involved in the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan as well as in disaster response and relief operations.


Dellosa said that women soldiers excelled in their field duties and assignments. “We have female soldiers who are performing well in combat operations. They are physically and mentally resilient and can cope with the harsh conditions in their field of duty,” Dellosa said.


Recognizing the potentials of women, the Philippine Military Academy (AFP) opened its gates to the first female cadets in 1993.


Dellosa said women have had their fair share of battles as proven by a long list of female revolutionaries in Philippine history.


The same courage and leadership exhibited by men also flowed in the veins of the likes of Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang and Teresa Magbanua who stood among their male counterparts in the Philippine revolt against Spanish colonizers.


These values were passed on to thousands of female officers and personnel in the AFP, Dellosa said.


With the Gender and Development Focal Point adhering to the Republic Act 9710, or the Magna Carta for Women, female soldiers and cadets are afforded the same rights, privileges, opportunities, roles, and even hardships that are initially given to men.


Brig. Gen. Ramona Go is the first female line officer to become a general in the AFP, making her the face of women empowerment in the military.


Go is still in the active service and concurrently the assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel (AJ1) of the AFP. Her previous assignment was adjutant general, AFP.


On her way up, Go felt that the changes being employed to accommodate the entry of women have been effective.


“I never felt isolated in the military bureaucracy because I was given tasks where I was very effective. In the Army, women are employed according to their capabilities,” she said.


“Women of the AFP are the subtle energies that stamp a difference in the wholeness of the military organization,” she said.


She said that this “difference” has been her mantra in her whole career, starting from when she first joined the active duty in 1982 until now that she has her first star on her shoulders.


Following her footsteps are the female cadets in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), among them are Cadet Maila Maniscan and Cadet Dianne Jane Aragona ,who are consistently in the top 10 of their class. “Surpassing the rigid training here (in the PMA) only proves how strong and determined I am in finishing what I have started. Being a female in the Academy does not hinder me in my development as a future leader of the nation,” says Aragona who is looking forward to her entry to the active military service a few years from now as a commissioned officer.


In the opening of the Women’s Month Celebration here at the General Headquarters’ Canopy Area on March 5, Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin relayed the start of a several activities aimed at recognizing the dynamic role played by women in various societal concerns, especially in emerging environmental issues.


“In line with this year’s theme, a series of activities are lined up to celebrate women’s month. There will be a nationwide tree-planting by women as part of the National Greening Program of national government, of which the Department of National Defense and AFP are actively participating in,” Gazmin said.


“There will also be a ‘Magna Carta for Women Information Caravan’ to raise awareness among different stakeholders, and the conduct of various other fora for consciousness-raising on gender and climate change,” he said.


For his part, Dellosa gave his personal account of his recognition of the roles of women in and out of service.


“I look at my wife and daughter and see immense potential for growth and self-fulfillment. I am thankful that more and more women are joining the AFP and sharing their individual potentials for the good of the organization and the people we serve,” he said..


He said that the AFP had made significant improvements in ensuring that facilities, trainings and career opportunities were equally available for both sexes “in accordance with the Magna Carta for Women.”


The AFP has pushed for stronger protection of women from harassment and violence, as well as of their tenure in the service, he said.


As part of the International Women’s Month celebration, Mrs Rhodora Gazmin and Mrs Mary Rose Dellosa are the invited guests at the opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Livelihood Bazaar at the Camp Aguinaldo Grandstand Parking Area on Monday.


The bazaar is a project of the Gender and Development of the Department of National Defense and AFP.


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Ben Cal | Philippine News Agency | March 11,2012 | Article Link

Among HS classmates, AFP chief ‘heartthrob’

LUCENA CITY—The picture says it all.

Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa, now armed forces chief, is neither high nor mighty among his classmates at the Quezon Provincial High School (QPHS) here.

At the 25th founding anniversary of the Southern Luzon Command here, Dellosa gamely bantered with members of class 1974 of QPHS, among them women who recalled Dellosa being a “heartthrob” during those days.

He still is, according to many of the women members of the class who were invited to the Solcom anniversary.

To Pacita Antenor-Flores, a member of the class, Dellosa was still “simple Jessie.”

Elmer Arias, another member of the class, said he knew Dellosa would be big someday and recalled the AFP chief being good at math.

“We were not surprised when he was named AFP chief of staff,” said Arias.

The Dellosas migrated to this city when their father, also a soldier, was assigned to Camp Nakar.

“He chooses his circle of friends but he is not a snob,” said Dellosa’s younger sister, Marilyn.

Marilyn said their late father, who retired as master sergeant, was a model for the now AFP chief.

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By Delfin T. Mallari Jr. | Inquirer Southern Luzon | Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 | Article Link

1st AFP chief joins Twitter; soldiers not followers yet

Now that he’s getting the hang of it, will he now communicate with his Commander-in-Chief via Twitter?

Upon the prodding of his children, the head of the 125,000-strong Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has joined the social networking craze.

On Friday, AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Jessie Dellosa opened an account on Twitter.

50 followers

“This is the official twitter account of the Chief of Staff, AFP. Thank you to the first followers,” read Dellosa’s first tweet in the morning.

“This account is not only for our soldiers but to reach out also to the people I serve. Thank you,” he tweeted in the afternoon.

As of 5 p.m., his account @CSAFPDellosa had drawn 50 followers, including several journalists—that irrepressible bunch he can’t get away from.

Direct access

While the AFP has an account on Twitter (@TeamAFP) and on Facebook, another equally popular social networking site, Dellosa is believed to be the first military chief and so far the only one in the military top brass to have a personal account on a social networking site.

“I was encouraged by my children to embrace the social media,” the 55-year-old general said in a statement to reporters. “I was curious about what it can do to help the organization reach out to our soldiers in the field. This is their direct access to me.”

“I have realized that social media can be a very effective feedback mechanism not only to address the concerns of our ground units but also to help spread the developments brought by our IPSP (internal peace and security plan) Bayanihan campaign,” Dellosa went on.

A salute

Also referred to as a micro-blogging site, Twitter allows its users to announce or tweet their views in 140 characters.

In turn, his “followers” can reply or repost his tweets (called retweet). But everyone on Twitter can send him a message. This starts a conversation that can be read by one’s followers.

So far, on his first day, Dellosa has not received any messages from his followers, except from one @akosibebang06 who told him: “we salute your kind heart sir… Godspeed!”

‘Your soldier’

In his account, Dellosa described himself simply as “your soldier.”

Dellosa has, so far, followed 22 Twitter accounts, including those of President Aquino, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Teofisto Guingona III and Pia Cayetano, and four Cabinet secretaries.

The rest were the Twitter accounts of the AFP and various government agencies.

Meanwhile, he has attracted an assortment of followers, mostly private individuals and groups, including deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Media Office (@CBCP4LIFE).

Interestingly, no soldier or officer was among those who followed Dellosa’s account as of late Friday afternoon.

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By Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

1:58 am | Saturday, February 11th, 2012

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