Rey Leonardo Borja Guerrero is a retired general of the Philippine Army serving as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs under the Duterte administration since 2018. He is a member of the PMA "Maharlika" Class of 1984.[1] Previously, he was the administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) from April to October 2018 and was the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from October 2017 to April 2018.[2]

Retired General
Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero
Commissioner of the
Bureau of Customs
In office
October 25, 2018 – July 20, 2022
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Bongbong Marcos
Preceded byIsidro Lapeña
Succeeded byYogi Filemon L. Ruiz
Administrator of the
Maritime Industry Authority
In office
April 30, 2018 – October 24, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byMarcial Q. C. Amaro III
Succeeded byRobert Empedrad
Narciso A. Vingson Jr. (OIC)
49th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
October 26, 2017 – April 18, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byGen. Eduardo Año
Succeeded byGen. Carlito Galvez Jr.
Personal details
BornPhilippines
Alma materPhilippine Military Academy
University of the Philippines Diliman
Nickname"Jagger"
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Years of service1984–2018
RankGeneral General
UnitChief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
AFP Eastern Mindanao Command
Chief of Staff, Philippine Army
3rd Infantry Division
AFP Special Operations Command
Presidential Security Group
701st Infantry Brigade, 7 ID
61st Infantry Battalion, 3 ID
Battles/warsMoro conflict
Communist rebellion in the Philippines

Background

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Before entering military service, he was a student in the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he took his PMA Exams in 1980 before entering the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) the same year, and graduated as a member of the PMA "Maharlika" class of 1984.[3] He was known to be strict, determined, well rounded, and serious, yet very kind-hearted and a great leader,[4][5][6] and also attended various military courses locally and abroad, such as the AFP Command and General Staff Course, and the Basic Airborne Course, among others. He is also a qualified member of the Special Forces.

During his 38 years in military service (including spending a total of 4 years as a PMA Cadet), he served as the former commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division, the 701st Infantry Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division, and the Presidential Security Group under the term of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He also commanded the Special Operations Command and also served as the former Philippine Army chief of staff, where he earned his second star and was promoted to Major General. He also served as commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, before being named as the commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command, where he earned his third star and was promoted to Lieutenant General.[7]

He is often called as "Jagger" as his nickname in the military. He was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on October 26, 2017, with his term as Chief of Staff of the AFP was extended by President Rodrigo Duterte[3] from December 17, 2017, until April 18, 2018, allowing him to serve his term beyond the mandatory retirement age at 56.[8] He was replaced by the commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command then-Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez Jr. on April 18, 2018.

After his retirement in the AFP, he was named by President Rodrigo Duterte as the next head of the Marina (Maritime Industry Authority), as the agency's administrator after he retired in the AFP. In October 2018, Guerrero was named Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs by President Rodrigo Duterte, replacing Isidro Lapeña after the latter was dismissed and given a new position in TESDA.[1]

Awards

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Left Side:

 
     
     
     
     
     
 
1st row Chief Commander, Philippine Legion of Honor
2nd row Grand Cross, Order of Lakandula Officer, Philippine Legion of Honor Outstanding Achievement Medal
3rd row 5 Distinguished Service Stars with four bronze anahaw clusters [7] 2 Gawad sa Kaunlaran with one bronze anahaw cluster 4 Bronze Cross Medals with four bronze anahaw clusters [7]
4th row Silver Wing Medal Military Merit Medals with one spearhead device (35 overall military merit medals) [7] Military Merit Medals with three bronze anahaws (35 overall military merit medals) [7]
5th row Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal Military Civic Action Medal Parangal sa Kapanalig ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas
6th row 4 Military Commendation Medals[7] United Nations Service Medal United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) Ribbon
7th row 4 Long Service Medals with three campaign stars 3 Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medals with two campaign stars Luzon Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
8th row Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal with one campaign star 3 Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal with two campaign stars Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Ribbon with two campaign stars

Right Side:

 
     
1st row Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
2nd row Martial Law Unit Citation People Power I Unit Citation People Power II Unit Citation

Badges and Other Awards:

Personal life

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He is married to Jayne R. Guerrero and has four children.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Customs appointment catches Rey Leonardo Guerrero by surprise". The Philippine Star. 2018-10-27. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  2. ^ "Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo Guerrero – DWDD". DWDD – Katropa Radio. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "AFP chief Guerrero now a four-star general". GMA News. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Outgoing AFP chief a 'great leader and well-rounded gentleman' | Philippine Canadian Inquirer". Canadianinquirer.net. 2018-04-13. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  5. ^ "AFP, PNP welcome appointment of Guerrero at BOC". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  6. ^ "Guerrero leaves AFP leadership 4 reminders before bowing out". Archived from the original on 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Eastmincom's Guerrero gets AFP's top post". Medals. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  8. ^ Salaverria, Leila B.; Dizon, Nikko (8 December 2017). "No goodbye yet for AFP chief of staff; term extended by 4 months". Inquirer News. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Log into Facebook". Facebook. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)