Gregorio Honasan
The Honorable, Colonel Gregorio Honasan | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2016 | |
2nd Secretary of Information and Communications Technology | |
In office July 1, 2019 – October 8, 2021 | |
President | Rodrigo Duterte |
Preceded by | Eliseo Rio Jr. (OIC) |
Succeeded by | Jose Arturo De Castro (OIC) |
Senator of the Philippines | |
In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2019 | |
In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2004 | |
Chair of the Senate National Defense and Security Committee | |
In office July 25, 2016 – November 20, 2018 | |
Preceded by | Antonio Trillanes |
Succeeded by | Panfilo Lacson |
Chair of the Senate Peace, Unification and Reconciliation Committee | |
In office July 25, 2016 – November 20, 2018 | |
Preceded by | TG Guingona |
Succeeded by | Ronald dela Rosa |
Chair of the Senate Agrarian Reform Committee | |
In office July 26, 2010 – June 30, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Francis Pangilinan |
Succeeded by | Alan Peter Cayetano |
Personal details | |
Born | Gregorio Ballesteros Honasan II March 14, 1948 Insurgency in the Philippines |
Military awards | Distinguished Conduct Star |
Gregorio "Gringo" Ballesteros Honasan II (Tagalog pronunciation:
After 1986, he led a series of unsuccessful but violent coup attempts against the administration of
On November 22, 2018, President Duterte appointed then-Senator Honasan as Secretary of
Early life
Gregorio Honasan was born in
Military career
After graduating in 1971, he joined the
Concurrent with his position as security chief, he was a board member of the Northern Mindanao Development Bank and president of the Beatriz Marketing Company.[7]
Political career
People Power
In 1986, Honasan and a cabal of colonels, backed by Enrile, tried to use popular unrest to overthrow the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos.[8] When the plot was uncovered, the conspirators sought refuge in the military headquarters and called on civilians, the media, and the Catholic Church for protection. Hundreds of thousands of people served as human shields to protect Honasan and his men from Marcos' forces, sparking the 1986 People Power Revolution that led to Marcos' fall from power and the installation of Corazon Aquino as president.
Coups d'état
Aquino awarded Honasan a Distinguished Conduct Star for the EDSA Revolution and the Presidential Government Medal in 1986. Under the new government, he was head of a special group in the defense ministry. Using his position, he was covertly involved in various coup attempts against Aquino.[8]
On August 28, 1987, fighting broke out in the streets and Honasan ordered his men to attack government installations, resulting in the deaths of dozens, including many civilians. The attack was put down by government forces, but Honasan was able to escape. He was later captured and imprisoned on a Navy ship in Manila Bay. He later escaped once again by convincing his guards to join his cause.[8]
Senate
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Gregorio_Honasan.jpg/150px-Gregorio_Honasan.jpg)
Philippine President
He left the Senate when his term expired in 2004. In the
In June 2015,
During the 2016 Philippine general elections, Honasan was Jejomar Binay's running mate under the United Nationalist Alliance party. Honasan placed 6th in the vice presidential race, garnering only 788,881 or 1.92% of votes.[11]
Information and Communications Technology Secretary
On November 22, 2018, President Duterte appointed Honasan as secretary of Department of Information and Communications Technology. Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. held the position until the end of Honasan's Senate term. Honasan was sworn into the office on July 1, 2019[12] and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on September 11, 2019.[13]
In January 2020, the Department was flagged by the
2022 Senate bid
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Lacson-Sotto_Supporters_Rally_QMC_Court_Gringo_Honasan_%28Quezon_City%3B_04-09-2022%29.jpg/220px-Lacson-Sotto_Supporters_Rally_QMC_Court_Gringo_Honasan_%28Quezon_City%3B_04-09-2022%29.jpg)
On October 8, 2021, Honasan filed his certificate of candidacy to run once again for senator in
On June 10, 2024, Honasan and other colleagues in Magdalo and the RAM established the Reform PH party in San Juan.[20]
In popular culture
- Parodied by veteran comedian Chiquito in the 1988 comedy film Gorio Punasan, Rebel Driver, the title being a pun on his name which literally translates as “Wipe Gorio”.
- Parodied in the 1987 comedy film Kumander Gringa starring Roderick Paulate.
- Portrayed by character actor Rez Cortez in the 1988 true to life drama TV film A Dangerous Life.
- Portrayed by action star Robin Padilla in the 1994 true to life action drama film Col. Billy Bibit, RAM.
- Portrayed by Moises Miclat in the 2007 comedy film Ang Cute ng Ina Mo!.
References
- ^ Rappler news magazine article with video accessed March 14, 2016
- ^ Kai Honasan writes moving story about growing up with father Sen. Gringo Honasan Archived March 15, 2016, at the Wayback Machine news magazine article with video accessed March 14, 2016
- ^ a b "33. HONASAN, GRINGO". Vote Pilipinas. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ Drogin, Bob (March 20, 1993). "REBELLION : Forgiving the Enemy in Manila : President's efforts to neutralize Philippine rebels give him much-needed boost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ "Duterte formally appoints Honasan as DICT chief". GMA News.
- ^ a b c "Senators Profile - Gregorio B. Honasan II". www.senate.gov.ph.
- ^ "i-site.ph - Gregorio Honasan". Archived from the original on December 24, 2005. Retrieved February 24, 2006.
- ^ a b c "Honasan: Anti-Marcos poster boy turned coup leader". ABS-CBN News.
- ^ "Miriam to GMA: Resign or we will storm palace". The Philippine Star. April 30, 2001. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ a b "Remembering the Iglesia-led EDSA 3". Rappler. August 25, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "#PHVote 2016 Official Election Results". Rappler. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ "Veteran lawmaker Honasan to lead DICT". dict.gov.ph. July 2, 2019.
- ^ Reganit, Jose Cielito (September 11, 2019). "CA confirms appointment of Honasan as DICT chief". Philippine News Agency.
- ^ Lopez, Melissa Luz (February 3, 2020). "Rio: ₱300-M of DICT's confidential funds released as cash advances to Honasan". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020.
- ^ "OFFICIAL JOINT STATEMENT OF SECRETARY GREGORIO B. HONASAN II AND UNDERSECRETARY ELISEO M. RIO, JR". dict.gov.ph. February 7, 2020.
- ^ Patinio, Ferdinand (October 8, 2021). "PRRD attends PDP-Laban bets' COC filing". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Mix of old and new names in Lacson Senate slate of 15". Rappler. October 15, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Marcos-Duterte tandem adopts Honasan on Senate ticket". Philstar.com. February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
- ^ Baron, Gabriela (May 11, 2022). "Honasan accepts loss, thanks supporters". PTV News. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ Panti, Llanesca (June 10, 2024). "Honasan, ex-RAM, Magdalo soldiers form Reform PH party". GMA News. Retrieved June 10, 2024.