PRESENT POSITION

• Executive Secretary

• Secretary of National Defense (Appointed on October 3, 2003)

• Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (Appointed on January 25, 2001)

• · Chairman, Government Peace Negotiating Panel in Talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Appointed on June 11, 2003)

• Acting Secretary of National Defense, 2001

• Provincial Chairman, LAKAS-NUCD for Province of Batangas, 1992-present

• Regional Chairman, LAKAS-NUCD, Region IV, 1992-present

• Chairman, Inter-Agency Committee for the Relief, Rehabilitation and Development of Mindanao (INTERACT-Mindanao), 2001

• President, Republic of the Philippines Golf Association (RPGA), 1994-2000

• Vice Chairman, Government Peace Panel Negotiations with the Moro National Liberation Front, 1992-1996

• Member, National Unification Commission, 1993-1994

• Undersecretary, Department of National Defense, 1988-1992

• Vice Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, 1988

• Deputy Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, 1986-1988

• Commanding General, Civil Relations Service, AFP, 1985-1986

• Senior Military Assistant, Office of the Undersecretary of National Defense, 1976-1985

IMPORTANT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AS THREE-TERM CONGRESSMAN REPRESENTING THE FIRST DISTRICT OF BATANGAS DURIGN THE 9^TH, 10^TH & 11^TH CONGRESS (1992-2001)

A. Leadership in Legislative Committees

• Chairman, Special Committee on the Peace Process and integration, 10^th Congress (1995-1998)

• Senior Vice Chairman, Committee on National Defense, 9^th Congress & 10^th Congress, (1992-1998)

B. Membership in Legislative Committees in the 9^th, 10^th & 11^th Congress (1992-2001)

• Committee on Agriculture

• Committee on Foreign Affairs

• Committee on Health

• Committee on Youth and Sports

• Committee on Public Order and Security

• Committee on Local Government

• Committee on Games and Amusement

• Committee on Public Works and highways

• Oversight Committee on Bases Conversion

• Special Committee on Law Enforcement

C. MAJOR Bills and Resolutions Authored and Sponsored on the Floor

• Repeal of the Anti-Subversion Law (RA 1700)

• Grant of Amnesty under five (5) Presidential Proclamations (10, 10-A, 347, 348 and 723), covering leftist insurgents, military rebels, and Southern Philippines secessionist rebels, as well as soldiers and policemen involved in counterinsurgency operations

• Adjustments of the rank of General and Flag Officers in the AFP

• Creation of two (2) additional ranks for Master-Sergeant in the AFP

• AFP Modernization Act

• Joint Resolutions approving the AFP Modernization Program

Major Bills and Resolutions Co-Authored and Co-Sponsored on the Floor

· (Compilation in Progress)

IMPORTANT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

• The AFP Chief of Staff during the series of coup attempts from 1986 to 1988, and Undersecretary of National Defense during the last major coup attempt in December 1989

• Head of the Special Information group during the EDSA I "People Power" Revolution in February 1986

• President, Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, 1986, 1987, 1988

• Handled the program for the reconciliation, reintegration and rehabilitation of rebel returnees in the DND, 1976-1984 & 1988-1992, as Senior Military Assistant to the USND (1976 to 1985)

• A pioneer in the organization and management of the Civil-Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 1970-1985, and eventually serving as the CRS’ Commanding General in 1985-1986, before and during the EDSA I "People Power" Revolution. The CRS remains as major AFP unit which establishes and maintains coordinative linkages with civilian communities and conducts psychological operations activities. It continues to be a significant pillar in the AFP’s overall counterinsurgency campaign, and in the AFP’s role in socio-economic development programs.

• Organized the Civil Affairs Office of the Metropolitan Command (Metrocom) in Metro Manila, Philippine Constabulary, 1968-1970

• ·Served in the Vietnam War as Head, Special Civic Action Team, PHILCAG, 1966-1968

• ·Served as Instructor at the Philippine Military Academy School Center, 1961-1962

• ·Participated in the Anti-Hukbalahap Campaign (4^th BCT) as a young lieutenant in the Sierra Madre mountains in Quezon Province, 1957-1959

• Played a vital role in the surrender of major MNLF commanders in Southern Philippines, as follows:

• Cmdr. Ronnie of Cotabato Province

• Cmdr. Abulkhair Alonto, MNLF Vice Chairman

• Cmdr Dimas Pundato, MNLF-Reformist Group Chairman

• Cmdr Gerry Salapuddin of Basilan (Now Deputy Speaker for Mindanao, House of Representatives)

• Cmdr Nur Khan of Davao Provinces

• Cmdr Alawi of Zamboanga Peninsula

• Headed the Technical Staff of the GRP Panel which negotiated with the Moro National Liberation Front in Tripoli, Libya in 1976 while serving as Senior Military Assistant to Former Defense Undersecretary Carmelo Barbero, the Chairman of the GRP Peace Panel.

• · Served as the Vice Chairman of the Government Peace Panel which negotiated with the MNLF, 1992-1996. Said talks resulted in the signing of the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement in Manila in 1996.

• Defense Resource Management Course, Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, USA, 1978-1979

• Command and General Staff Course, Fort Bonifacio, 1974

• Unit Psychological Officers Course, Kennedy Center, Fort Bragg, North California, USA, 1970-1971

• Special Forces Course, Fort Magsaysay, 1962-1963

• ·Counterintelligence Course, Special Intelligence School, Fort Bonifacio, Mar-Jun 1962

• Airborne School, Fort Benning, Georgia, USA, Feb – Apr 1961

• Ranger School, Fort Benning, Georgia, USA, Sep 1960 – Jan 1961

• Philippine Legion of Honor, Degree of Commander, for distinguished service as AFP Vice Chief of Staff and concurrently as AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for the period ending march 31, 1988

• Distinguished Conduct Star, the second highest military award, for exceptional courage and daring in effecting the surrender of former MNLF Cmdr, Gerry Salapuddin, Chairman of the Basilan Revolutionary Committee, and 1,300 armed followers. (Said MNLF Commander is now the Congressman representing the province of Basilan and the Deputy Speaker for Mindanao in the House Representatives)

• Gold Cross Medal, for his able leadership of a handful of officers that defended GHQ, Camp Aguinaldo against rebel soldiers led by former Lt. Col. Gregorio Honasan in the August 28, 1987 coup attempt against the Aquino Administration

• ·Distinguished Service Star, as Commanding General of the Civil Relations Service (CRS), AFP during the February 1986 EDSA I "People Power" Revolution

• Outstanding Achievement Medal, as Commanding General of the Civil Relations Service, AFP for outstanding accomplishments in 1985-1986

• Military Merit Medal, bestowed upon him three (3) times

• Athletic Saber, awarded during graduation rites for PMA Class 1957

SECRETARY ERMITA was born on July 13, 1935 in Balayan, Batangas. He is married to the former Elvira Ramos from Dipolog City by whom he has four children, namely: Edwin (41, married), Ernestina (39, Married), Elenita (33, Married) and Elisa (31, married). He has seven (7) grandchildren.