Gringo Honasan

Gringo Honasan
Senator of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2007
In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2004
Personal details
Born	(1948-03-14) March 14, 1948 Baguio, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	UNA (2012-present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (1990-2012)
Spouse(s)	Jane Umali
Residence	Manila
Alma mater	Philippine Military Academy
Profession	Soldier
Religion	Evangelical Christianity
Awards	Presidential Government Medal Distinguished Conduct Star
Military service
Allegiance	Philippines
Service/branch	Philippine Army
Years of service	1971-1989
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	Insurgency in the Philippines

Gregorio Ballesteros Honasan II (born March 14, 1948), better known as Gringo Honasan is a Filipino politician, a former soldier, and leader of unsuccessful coups. He played a key role in the 1986 EDSA Revolution that toppled the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos. After democracy was restored, 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 since 2007. He is running for vice president in 2016.

Early life

Gregorio Honasan was born in Baguio City to Colonel Romeo Gillego Honasan and Alicia "Alice" Masip Ballesteros, both from Sorsogon province. Honasan spent his elementary days at San Beda College from Kindergarten to Grade 6. After which, he went to Taiwan and studied at the Dominican School, Taipei, Taiwan. He then returned to the Philippines and finished his high school at Don Bosco Technical College.He attained his Bachelor of Science degree at the Philippine Military Academy, where he received the title of "Class Baron", the academy's highest leadership award.

After graduating in 1971, he joined the Philippine Army's Special Force: The Scout Ranger and went into combat duty against separatist and communist insurgents in Luzon and Mindanao. He was wounded in action at battles in Lebak and Jolo. Making his way up through the armed forces, he became aide-de-camp to Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile in 1974, and later became the department's Chief of Security.

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.

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. 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.

Coup d'etats

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. 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 on Manila Bay. He later escaped once again by convincing his guards to join his cause.

Senate

Main article: Jejomar Binay presidential campaign, 2016

Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, who was elected in 1992, granted amnesty to Honasan. Honasan utilized his rebel infamy to enter politics in 1995, becoming the first independent candidate in Philippine history to win a seat in the Senate. He was re-elected in 2001, and left the Senate when his second term expired in 2004. In the general election held in May 2007, he was again elected to the Senate. Running as an independent candidate, he polled some 11.6 million votes, finishing 10th out of 37 candidates for 12 Senate vacancies. He took up his post on June 30. He was reelected during the 2013 elections, placing twelfth, his fourth consecutive term.

On June 2015, Justice Undersecretary Justiniano had an amended complaint against Senator Honasan for his alleged part in the Pork Barrel Scam. It was for cases for malversation of funds.

Following the alleged collapse of talks between UNA presidential candidate Jejomar Binay Honasan became Binay's running mate.

External links

• Official campaign site of Gregorio Honasan
• Official Facebook fanpage campaign site of Gregorio Honasan
• Official Twitter account of Gregorio Honasan
• Official Youtube campaign channel of Gregorio Honasan
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