GRINGO HONASAN
(ABS-CBN News, Based on Research by ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group)
Gregorio ‘Gringo’ B. Honasan II has been making headlines since 1971.
When he graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1971, he was the recipient of the “Class Baron” award, the highest leadership award in the academy.
During the Marcos years, then Lt. Honasan was aide-de-camp of then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile in 1974. He would later become the defense department’s Chief of Security, and, his camp claims, the youngest full colonel in Philippine history.
He would play a key role in the 1986 People Power revolution as one of the leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement or RAM, which withdrew support from then President Ferdinand Marcos and triggered the people-backed military uprising. The EDSA Revolution ousted Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino in 1986.
During the administration of Pres. Corazon C. Aquino, Honasan led two unsuccessful coup attempts against her administration.
During the Arroyo administration, he was accused of being the mastermind behind the so-called ‘Oakwood mutiny’ led by the Magdalo group of Antonio ‘Sonny’ Trillanes IV. He went into hiding thereafter. The coup d’etat case against him was later junked by the court. He was also linked to the 2006 failed coup and Marine standoff against Arroyo although he denied the allegations.
SALN
Honasan declared the following in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth as of December 31, 2014:
ASSETS: P21,225,616 (of which, Real Properties: P 4,733,800 and Personal Properties: P16,491,815.91)
LIABILITIES: P0
NET WORTH: P21,225,616
Campaign Spending and Contributions Received
When he ran for the Senate in 2013, Honasan spent P24.11 million for his campaign. He declared having received P23.1 million in campaign contributions from 31 contributors. His top donors were: Raul S. Cruz and Rosita T. Cruz, who each donated P3 million in cash for Honasan’s campaign.
Source: Honasan’s 2013 Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures accessed from the Comelec website
Controversies/Issues:
ON THE ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN PORK BARREL SCAM
Honasan is among the nine lawmakers included in the third batch of government officials who have been charged for their alleged involvement in the ‘Napoles pork barrel scam’ in August 2015.
Honasan was charged by the NBI before the Office of the Ombudsman with malversation of public funds, direct bribery, and violation of R.A. 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly diverting P1.75 million from their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to bogus NGOs related to Janet Lim-Napoles.
ON BEING A COUP PLOTTER
Honasan was one of the leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM). He admitted that he took part in three coup attempts that caused hundreds of civilian deaths. Only the 1986 coup was successful and led to the ouster of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The two unsuccessful coup attempts were during the administration of Pres. Corazon C. Aquino: one in 1987 and another in 1989.
ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN COUP PLOTS DURING THE ARROYO ADMINISTRATION
During the Arroyo administration, he was accused of being the mastermind behind the so-called ‘Oakwood Mutiny’ led by the Magdalo group of Antonio ‘Sonny’ Trillanes IV. He went into hiding thereafter but was captured on November 2006. The coup d’état case against him was later junked by the court.
Bills Authored/Advocacies:
He is principal author of the Clean Air Act of 1999
He also authored the following: Clean Water Act, National Security Policy, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2009, Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms Law (CARPER), Republic Act 8368 (a law that decriminalized squatting)
Other bills that he shepherded in the Senate:
Freedom of Information Act or People’s Ownership of Government Information (POGI) Act of 2012; National Mapping and Resource Authority Law; Land Use Act.