Gregorio Honasan

Gregorio Honasan
Official portrait, 2016
2nd Secretary of Information and Communications Technology
In office
July 1, 2019 – October 8, 2021
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byEliseo Rio Jr. (OIC)
Succeeded byJose 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 byAntonio Trillanes
Succeeded byPanfilo Lacson
Chair of the Senate Peace, Unification and Reconciliation Committee
In office
July 25, 2016 – November 20, 2018
Preceded byTG Guingona
Succeeded byRonald dela Rosa
Chair of the Senate Agrarian Reform Committee
In office
July 26, 2010 – June 30, 2016
Preceded byFrancis Pangilinan
Succeeded byAlan Peter Cayetano
Personal details
Born
Gregorio Ballesteros Honasan II

(1948-03-14) March 14, 1948 (age 76)
Baguio, Mountain Province, Philippines
Political partyReform PH (2024–present)
Other political
affiliations
United Nationalist Alliance (2012–2021)
Independent (until 2012; 2021–2024)
SpouseJane Umali
RelationsBarbie Almalbis (daughter-in-law)
Children5, including Kai[1][2]
ResidenceManila
Alma materPhilippine Military Academy (BS)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionSoldier
Civilian awardsPresidential Government Medal
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Years of service1970–1989
Rank Colonel
Battles/warsInsurgency in the Philippines
Military awardsDistinguished Conduct Star

Gregorio "Gringo" Ballesteros Honasan II (Tagalog pronunciation: [hoˈnasan], born March 14, 1948),[3] is a Filipino politician and a cashiered[4] Philippine Army officer who led unsuccessful coups d'état against President Corazon Aquino. He played a key role in the 1986 EDSA Revolution that toppled President Ferdinand Marcos, and participated in the EDSA III rallies in 2001 that preceded the May 1 riots near Malacañang Palace.

After 1986, he led a series of unsuccessful but violent coup attempts against the administration of Corazon Aquino. President Fidel Ramos granted him amnesty in 1992. He entered politics and became a senator from 1995 to 2004, and again from 2007 to 2019. He ran for vice president of the Philippines, being Jejomar Binay's running-mate in 2016, but both were respectively defeated by Leni Robredo and Rodrigo Duterte.

On November 22, 2018, President Duterte appointed then-Senator Honasan as Secretary of Department of Information and Communications Technology, which took effect after the latter's senatorial term,[5] with Eliseo Rio serving as acting secretary. He established much digital policies that helped the Philippine ICT landscape.

  1. ^ Rappler news magazine article with video accessed March 14, 2016
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ "33. HONASAN, GRINGO". Vote Pilipinas. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Duterte formally appoints Honasan as DICT chief". GMA News.