All DND co-terminus officials, employees to stay until further notice - Lorenzana

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1): All DND co-terminus officials, employees to stay until further notice - Lorenzana

Newly-appointed Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said all co-terminus officials and employees will stay on their respective posts until further announcement.

He made this statement during the welcome ceremonies held for him at DND headquarters, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Friday morning.

"I would like to retain some (co-terminus employees and officials) and I will make some announcement later (on who will stay or not), we still have to to review the line-up," Lorenzana said.

The new DND chief, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1973 and a retired major general, also served as the Special Presidential Representative and Head of the Office of Veteran Affairs (OVA) at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, USA from 2004-2009 and 2010 until his selection by President Rodrigo Duterte as defense head.

He is responsible for developing and implementing the Philippine lobby effort to secure veterans benefits for Filipino soldiers who served under the US Army during World War II, which includes the grant of the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) and the equipment grant to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

"He (Lorenzana) knew that the DND is in good hands, it is up to him to make the DND much better," former DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

Gazmin added that when the incoming DND chief made his first visit, all relevant documents and books were presented for his inspection.

Gazmin is hopeful that Lorenzana will continue all the reforms, including the military modernization, started during his term.

"I am sure he will implement all these things for the good of the department, for the government and for everyone," the outgoing DND chief said.

Prior to his post as OVA Head, Lorenzana served as the Defense Attaché in Washington from 2002-2004, during which he helped craft the Terms of Reference for the Balikatan Exercise in Basilan between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Pacific Command.

As a career soldier, Lorenzana headed the Special Operations Command of the Philippine Army from 2001-2003 after serving as the Commanding General of the Philippine Army Light Armor Brigade and concurrent Ground Commander of the Task Force Libra in 2001.

His military career included a posting at the Presidential Security Group and as Deputy Presidential Assistant for Military Affairs.

Lorenzana also held a number of command and staff positions at the Headquarters of the Philippine Army and later, of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, following his assignments at the Southern Command and the Visayas Command. He also served as instructor of ranger tactics at the Scout Ranger School and infantry tactics at the Philippine Army Training Command.

Lorenzana’s highly-decorated military career involved leading anti-terrorist operations and trainings, securing the Malacañang Palace from coup attempts, commanding campaigns against insurgents, and capturing notorious kidnap-for-ransom group leaders.

Lorenzana earned his post-graduate degree of Master of Business Administration, major in Operations Research, from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

He also finished a number of courses and trainings both here and abroad, including strategic studies at the Australia University in Canberra, a seminar for Senior International Leaders at Harvard University, and crisis management at the US Department of State.

Lorenzana was born on Oct. 28, 1948 and hails from Midsayap, Cotabato. He is married and has four children.

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