Jose T. Almonte
Encyclopedia
Jose T. Almonte was the former National Security Advisor and Director-General of the National Security Council
in the Cabinet of Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos
. He was also the head of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
, the Director Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (EIIB) during the administration of Pres. Corazon Aquino
.
Prior to his retirement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
in 1986, Brig. Gen. Almonte was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Relations.
as plebe on April 1, 1952, finishing with the Class of '56.
As a young Lieutenant, he was assigned in Gitingan in the mountains of Laguna and Quezon
provinces during the waning days of the HUKBALAHAP
. A neighboring unit then was commanded by Korean War
veteran Capt. Fidel Ramos, and it was here where Lt. Almonte forged a life-long friendship with Capt. Ramos, who later became the President of the Philippines
.
Almonte testifies that this was his only "field command" as he was confronted by his own troops about field mismanagement, that was led to a formal complaint up to the Company level. Instead of being court-martial
ed for command responsibility as he requested, Almonte was sent to Fort McKinley
to go through a Combat Intelligence course. He testifies that this incident has made a profound impact on his idealism on soldiery and opened his "eyes to the realities and consequences of military mismanagement in the field."
During the administration of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal
, Capt. Almonte served as the Deputy Commander of the Presidential Security Agency
.
Under pressure from the American government, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
wielded support of its campaign in the Vietnam War
. Capt. Almonte was assigned in a three-man advance party along with Maj. Fidel Ramos to lay down the ground work for the arrival of the Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAGV).
Capt. Almonte acted as the Intelligence Officer for PHILCAGV. And, in this capacity, without escaping controversy and the ire of the American intelligence community in Vietnam, Capt. Almonte was able to successfully contact his counterparts in the National Liberation Front, or commonly known as the Viet Cong. This later on built Capt. Almonte's reputation as a deep-penetration agent, and one whose exploits is nothing less than "shadowy, sneaky, mysterious and enigmatic."
Building good relations with the local Viet Cong commander in the Tay Ninh Province, in the southwestern part of South Vietnam, he assured them that the PHILCAGV was in their country to help build and provide civic services and not conduct combat operations. Unlike the South Korean contingent, PHILCAGV was able to keep its casualties down. Instead of the usual one year assignment, Capt. Almonte rotated three years in Vietnam with the PHILCAGV. For his gallantry in Vietnam from 1967–1969, he was awarded by Pres. Marcos the Distinguished Conduct Star
.
Upon return to the Philippines, he was once more assigned to work in Malacañang Palace
as Aide-de-camp
to Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr.. It was during this career season that Maj. Almonte along with Sec. Melchor was able to establish the diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the USSR through the help of Prof. Ajit Singh Rye of the Institute of Asian Studies in the University of the Philippines
.
It was through Prof. Rye that Sec. Melchor and Maj. Almonte was able to pave way for an endorsement to Indira Gandhi
for a dialogue with Moscow. This was the plan as the Philippines then was considered as the United States
' strongest ally in Southeast Asia, and a reliable partner during the Cold War
. However, the government of Pres. Marcos saw that the US was going to lose in Vietnam, and thus the need to establish ties with the "enemy."
With one visit to New Delhi
in 1975, Maj. Almonte met with the Ambassador of the USSR, which no sooner led to a flight by Sec. Melchor and Maj. Almonte to Moscow where they were received as state guest. By 1976, the Philippines and the Soviet Union
formally established diplomatic relations
.
Considered as one of the level-headed thinkers and strategist in the AFP
, Col. Almonte was approached by the leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement
(RAM) during its infancy, to seek counsel and have him take as an advisor to the group. Almonte worked with Lt. Col. Victor Batac
in formulating long-term strategies of the group, leading him to be considered as the "Godfather of the RAM".
Almonte retired from the Armed Forces in 1986 with a rank of Major General
.
, the government's efforts in recovering the hidden wealth of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos in Switzerland
and other offshore banking areas. When the Operation Big Bird was wrapped up by the Presidential Commission on Good Governance (PCGG), Almonte was tasked by Pres. Cory Aquino to head the EEIB.
In 1995 the Polytechnic University of the Philippines
awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration.
National Security Council (Philippines)
National Security Council is the Philippine President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials.-History:Commonwealth Act No...
in the Cabinet of Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...
. He was also the head of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency
The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency is the primary intelligence gathering and analysis arm of the Philippine government, in charge of carrying out overt, covert, and clandestine intelligence programs...
, the Director Economic Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (EIIB) during the administration of Pres. Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
.
Prior to his retirement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
in 1986, Brig. Gen. Almonte was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Relations.
Military career
Jose Almonte entered the Philippine Military AcademyPhilippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy or PMA, is the Philippine military school for the Armed Forces of the Philippines . PMA was established on December 21, 1936 by the virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 1 . PMA is located in Baguio, Benguet province...
as plebe on April 1, 1952, finishing with the Class of '56.
As a young Lieutenant, he was assigned in Gitingan in the mountains of Laguna and Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
provinces during the waning days of the HUKBALAHAP
Hukbalahap
The Hukbalahap , was the military arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines , formed in 1942 to fight the Japanese Empire's occupation of the Philippines during World War II. It fought a second war from 1946 to 1954 against the pro-Western leaders of their newly independent country...
. A neighboring unit then was commanded by Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
veteran Capt. Fidel Ramos, and it was here where Lt. Almonte forged a life-long friendship with Capt. Ramos, who later became the President of the Philippines
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
.
Almonte testifies that this was his only "field command" as he was confronted by his own troops about field mismanagement, that was led to a formal complaint up to the Company level. Instead of being court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
ed for command responsibility as he requested, Almonte was sent to Fort McKinley
Fort Bonifacio
Fort Bonifacio is a highly urbanized district in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The district is named after the main Philippine Army camp in Metro Manila, Fort Andres Bonifacio, which in turn was named after the famous Philippine revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio...
to go through a Combat Intelligence course. He testifies that this incident has made a profound impact on his idealism on soldiery and opened his "eyes to the realities and consequences of military mismanagement in the field."
During the administration of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970...
, Capt. Almonte served as the Deputy Commander of the Presidential Security Agency
Presidential Security Group
- External links :*...
.
Under pressure from the American government, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
wielded support of its campaign in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Capt. Almonte was assigned in a three-man advance party along with Maj. Fidel Ramos to lay down the ground work for the arrival of the Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAGV).
Capt. Almonte acted as the Intelligence Officer for PHILCAGV. And, in this capacity, without escaping controversy and the ire of the American intelligence community in Vietnam, Capt. Almonte was able to successfully contact his counterparts in the National Liberation Front, or commonly known as the Viet Cong. This later on built Capt. Almonte's reputation as a deep-penetration agent, and one whose exploits is nothing less than "shadowy, sneaky, mysterious and enigmatic."
Building good relations with the local Viet Cong commander in the Tay Ninh Province, in the southwestern part of South Vietnam, he assured them that the PHILCAGV was in their country to help build and provide civic services and not conduct combat operations. Unlike the South Korean contingent, PHILCAGV was able to keep its casualties down. Instead of the usual one year assignment, Capt. Almonte rotated three years in Vietnam with the PHILCAGV. For his gallantry in Vietnam from 1967–1969, he was awarded by Pres. Marcos the Distinguished Conduct Star
Distinguished Conduct Star
The Distinguished Conduct Star, is the second highest military award of the Philippines, preceded in precedence only by the Medal of Valor. The award was established in 1939, by President Manuel L. Quezon...
.
Upon return to the Philippines, he was once more assigned to work in Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace
The Malacañan Palace, commonly known simply as Malacañang, is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the Philippines. Located at 1000 J. P. Laurel Street, San Miguel, Manila, the house was built in 1750 in Spanish Colonial style. It has been the residence of every...
as Aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr.. It was during this career season that Maj. Almonte along with Sec. Melchor was able to establish the diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the USSR through the help of Prof. Ajit Singh Rye of the Institute of Asian Studies in the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
.
It was through Prof. Rye that Sec. Melchor and Maj. Almonte was able to pave way for an endorsement to Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
for a dialogue with Moscow. This was the plan as the Philippines then was considered as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' strongest ally in Southeast Asia, and a reliable partner during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. However, the government of Pres. Marcos saw that the US was going to lose in Vietnam, and thus the need to establish ties with the "enemy."
With one visit to New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
in 1975, Maj. Almonte met with the Ambassador of the USSR, which no sooner led to a flight by Sec. Melchor and Maj. Almonte to Moscow where they were received as state guest. By 1976, the Philippines and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
formally established diplomatic relations
Philippines–Russia relations
Philippines–Russia relations is the bilateral relationship between Russia and the Philippines.Philippine ambassador to Moscow, Russia Ernesto V...
.
Considered as one of the level-headed thinkers and strategist in the AFP
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
, Col. Almonte was approached by the leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement
Reform the Armed Forces Movement
The Reform the Armed Forces Movement, also referred to by the acronym RAM, is a cabal of officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that attempted to seize power in the Philiipines during the 1980s and 1990s...
(RAM) during its infancy, to seek counsel and have him take as an advisor to the group. Almonte worked with Lt. Col. Victor Batac
Victor Batac
Victor Batac was the former Director of the Directorate for Logistics of the Philippine National Police.-Early years:Vic Batac entered the Philippine Military Academy as plebe on April 1, 1967 in Class of '71 - which is a graduating class known for prominent politicians such as Senators Gregorio...
in formulating long-term strategies of the group, leading him to be considered as the "Godfather of the RAM".
Almonte retired from the Armed Forces in 1986 with a rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.
Political career
Right after his retirement, Pres. Cory Aquino called on Almonte to take charge of Operation Big BirdOperation Big Bird
"Operation Big Bird" was the attempt of the Philippine Government during the presidency of Corazon Aquino to recover the alleged US$ 7.5 billion of hidden accounts and assets of President Ferdinand Marcos and his family in the Swiss banks. Conceived by Philippine banker Michael de Guzman, it...
, the government's efforts in recovering the hidden wealth of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and other offshore banking areas. When the Operation Big Bird was wrapped up by the Presidential Commission on Good Governance (PCGG), Almonte was tasked by Pres. Cory Aquino to head the EEIB.
In 1995 the Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines commonly known as PUP is a public research university in the Philippines. It was founded on October 19, 1904 as the Manila Business School, offering commerce-related courses...
awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration.
Quotations
- "In this country, reforms can only happen if the President is committed to reforms. If the President is not committed, nothing can happen."