Sen. Gregorio Honasan INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Eighteen graduates of the Philippine Military Academy, the country’s premier military school, were installed in public office after winning in the May 13 midterm elections.
“When retirement seems to be an end to a soldier’s career, 18 Philippine Military Academy alumni found their way to back to government service by running for a political office,” Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr., Chairman of the PMA Alumni Association Inc., said in a statement.
Senators Gregorio B. Honasan (Class 1971) and Antonio F. Trillanes III (1995), Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo G. Biazon (1961) and Zambales Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. (1970) were among the notable “cavaliers” who won in the recent elections.
Graduates of PMA are called “cavaliers” in recognition of a prestigious brotherhood, Brawner explained.
Joining the list of PMA graduates elected to office are Lubang, Occidental Mindoro Mayor Juan M. Sanchez (1955), Antipolo City Representative Romeo M. Acop (1970), Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. (1972), San Manuel, Tarlac Mayor Benjamin D. Tesoro (1975), Alabat, Quezon Mayor Fernando L. Mesa (1975), 2nd District of Pangasinan Representative Leopoldo N. Bataoil (1976), Tuguegarao, Cagayan Mayor Jefferson P. Soriano (1976), Laoac, Pangasinan Mayor Silverio D. Alarcio Jr. (1976), Bangui, Ilocos Norte Vice-Mayor Fidel A. Cimatu Jr. (1977), Anti-Crime and Terrorism thru Community Involvement Support Partylist Representative Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr. (1979), Barotac Viejo, Iloilo Mayor Raul C. Tupas (1994) and DIWA Partylist Chair Edgar B. Aglipay (1971) represented by his daughter, Atty. Emmelyn Aglipay.
Meanwhile, the Magdalo party was also able to secure two seats during the elections for Garry C. Alejano (1995) and Francisco Ashley Acedillo (1999).
The Magdalo was able to secure two seats in Congress after garnering two percent of total votes. It was also able to get an additional seat based on the Comelec’s formula on seat allocation. The partylist system is a proportional mode of representation in Congress.
The Magdalo group with about 300 soldiers, led by Trillanes, seized the Oakwood apartments in Makati City in July 2003 to express their grievances against alleged corruption in the military under the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. They surrendered after about 20 hours.
To date, the highest post ever occupied by a PMA alumnus in politics was the Presidency by Fidel V. Ramos (United States Military Academy 1950) who became the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. Another cavalier, Panfilo M. Lacson (1971), ended his term as Senator last June 30.
“PMA alumni running for public office is not a new practice in the country. In fact, more and more cavaliers are turning to politics after retiring from the service to continue their advocacies and serve the people and the nation,” Brawner said.