Ariel Querubin

Last updated
Ariel O. Querubin
Born (1956-03-28) 28 March 1956 (age 67)
Dagupan, Philippines
AllegianceFlag of the Philippines.svg Philippines
Service/branchFlag of the Philippine Marine Corps.png Philippine Marine Corps
Years of service1979-2010
Rank PHIL ARMY COL WOODLAND.svg Colonel [1]
Service number 0-7901
Unit Seal of the Philippine Marine Corps.svg Philippine Marine Corps
Commands heldMarine Battalion Landing Team-1
1st Marine Brigade
Battles/wars Communist rebellion in the Philippines
Moro conflict
1989 Philippine coup attempt
2000 Philippine campaign against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Awards Philippine Medal of Valor ribbon.jpg Medal of Valor
Distinguished Conduct Star Ribbon Bar.png Distinguished Conduct Star
PHL Distinguished Service Star BAR.svg Distinguished Service Star (3)
PHL Gold Cross.png Gold Cross (7)
PHL Military Merit Medal.gif Military Merit Medal (12)

Ariel Oliva Querubin is a retired Philippine Marine Corps officer and a recipient of the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Querubin was born in Dagupan, Pangasinan. He grew up in La Union and studied in Manila. He was a member of the leftist student group Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan ("Democratic Association of Youth") until he attended the Philippine Military Academy, graduating in 1979. He then opted to become an officer in the Philippine Marine Corps. [3]

Military career

Querubin has been an active participant in various military operations during the ongoing Communist rebellion in the Philippines and the Moro conflict. He is credited with the neutralization of various rebel leaders of both the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army and the Moro National Liberation Front, including CPP-NPA provincial chairman Jessie Rafael in 1981, four MNLF commanders in 1983, the NPA commander known as "Ka Ninong" and MNLF commander Racquel Carreon, both in 1988. [4] He is also said to have been involved in the rescue of Hans Kunzli, [5] a Swiss national kidnapped by a group led by a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Participation in the 1987 coup attempt

On 28 August 1987, Reform the Armed Forces Movement rebels led by Gregorio Honasan attempted a coup against President Corazon Aquino. They attacked Malacañang Palace, Camp Aguinaldo and Villamor Air Base. Querubin, along with Red Kapunan and Juancho Sabban, attempted to bring Philippine Military Academy cadets from Baguio to Manila to provide support for Honasan. [6]

Participation in the 1989 coup attempt

In 1989, then-Captain Querubin was a co-founder of the Young Officers' Union (YOU). The YOU, along with another group known as the "Soldiers of the Filipino People" (SFP) and the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) participated in the most serious coup against Corazon Aquino's government. [4] He almost died in clashes with troops loyal to the government. Some reports indicate that he suffered from a gunshot wound; [7] Querubin himself stated that he was wounded by a rocket blast during clashes in Camp Aguinaldo. [3] The mutiny eventually failed and Querubin and his comrades were detained. They were granted amnesty during the administration of Fidel Ramos, who succeeded Corazon Aquino as president. [8]

Re-entry into military service

Querubin re-entered military service after being granted amnesty. In 1994, he was credited with the neutralization of Barahama Sali, [4] which led to the eventual release from captivity of Catholic priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda who had been kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan. [9] He was also involved in the 2002 operation that killed Abu Sayyaf spokesperson Abu Sabaya.

2000 Philippines-MILF War

In 2000 Querubin, now a lieutenant colonel, was conferred the Armed Forces of the Philippines' highest honor, the Medal of Valor for leading a military operation against 300 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters in Lanao del Norte. [10]

2006 Fort Bonifacio standoff

On 24 February 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency in the Philippines after her government foiled a supposed coup plot called Oplan HACKLE. Fourteen junior military officers had been arrested two days before. In the wake of the proclamation, on 26 February 2006, Major General Renato Miranda, the Philippine Marine Corps Commandant, was relieved from his post. Colonel Querubin protested his removal and some Marines started a vigil at Fort Bonifacio. Querubin stated that they would wait there for the people to protect them. Meanwhile, other government security forces loyal to Arroyo locked down Fort Bonifacio, sealing in the protesting Marines. [11] The standoff was resolved that evening. Querubin was detained at Camp Aguinaldo and recommended to undergo pretrial investigation and facing a mutiny charge. [7] [12]

In 2010, President Benigno Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 50, granting amnesty to military personnel linked to the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the 2006 Fort Bonifacio standoff and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege. [13]

Post-military service

Querubin worked as an internal security consultant for San Miguel Corporation after being granted amnesty. [3] He resigned his commission from the Armed Forces of the Philippines when he ran for a Senate seat as a member of the Nacionalista Party during the 2010 elections. [4] His candidacy was not successful, only garnering 6.5 million votes and landing him in 19th place in the senatorial race. He supported Grace Poe's candidacy during the 2016 Presidential election.

Personal life

Querubin has five children. [14] His first wife, Dr. Loreta Cercenia-Querubin, bore him two - Alfred Benjamin and Francesca Eufrosina. She died in 1994 at the age of 31, allegedly over stress stemming from a business deal with Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam. Querubin has remarried; his second wife is Pong Azcarraga Querubin, who bore him three children, Jose Ariel, Ariel, and John Ariel. [15] [16]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Dioquino, Rose-An Jessica (22 December 2016). "AFP Medal of Valor awardees to receive higher monthly incentive next year". GMA News. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Fonbuena, Carmela (20 December 2017). "FAST FACTS: List of Medal of Valor awardees and their privileges". Rappler. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Cortez, Brando (16 August 2011). "LIFE AFTER MARINES: Querubin finds spiritual and happy family life" . Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Arcangel, Xianne (20 March 2016). "Poe to name Ariel Querubin anti-crime czar if she becomes President". GMA News. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  5. ↑ "Hans Kunzli, a Swiss tourist kidnapped by Moslem bandits". United Press International. 8 October 1986. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  6. ↑ Government of the Philippines. "The Final Report of the Fact-Finding Commission: V: The Failed December 1989 Coup: Pre-Coup Events and Battle Zone Narratives". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Former coup leader vs Cory salutes former commander in chief". ABS-CBN News. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Caballero, Joel (20 October 2010). "Querubin to Noynoy: Thank you". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  9. ↑ Morelos, Carmelo D.F. "Statement on Father Cirilo Nacordaand the Abbu Sayyaf". Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  10. ↑ Philippine Marine Corps. "Medal for Valor: LIEUTENANT COLONEL ARIEL Q QUERUBIN 0-7901 Philippine Navy (Marines)(GSC)". Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Head of Philippine Marines relieved of duty". NBC News . Associated Press. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "2 Marine colonels resign from posts". GMA News. 21 July 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "Querubin to Noynoy: Thank you". ABS-CBN News. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Who is Col. Ariel Querubin?". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism . Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  15. ↑ Gloria, Glenda M. (13 August 2013). "Janet Napoles and a tragic past". Rappler. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  16. ↑ De Jesus, Julliane Love (14 August 2013). "'Stress over Napoles deal may have killed my wife'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
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