Wikipedia

Eduardo Año

Eduardo Manahan Año (Tagalog: [ʔɛdˈwaɾdo ˈaɲo]; born October 26, 1961) is a retired Philippine Army general who served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 2016 to 2017, and the Commanding General of the Philippine Army from 2015 to 2016. After retiring from the military, he served as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2018 to 2022 then as National Security Adviser in the administration of President Bongbong Marcos from 2023 to 2026.[4]

Retired General
Eduardo M. Año
PA
Portrait as Chief of Staff
National Security Adviser
In office
January 14, 2023 – April 15, 2026
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byClarita Carlos
Succeeded byEduardo Oban
40th Secretary of the Interior and Local Government
In office
November 6, 2018 – June 30, 2022
Officer-in-Charge: January 5, 2018 – November 6, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byUsec. Catalino Cuy (OIC)
Succeeded byBenhur Abalos
Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
In office
October 26, 2017 – January 4, 2018
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
48th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
December 7, 2016[1] – October 26, 2017
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byGen. Ricardo Visaya
Succeeded byGen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero
Commanding General of the Philippine Army
In office
July 14, 2015 – December 7, 2016
PresidentBenigno Aquino III
Rodrigo Duterte
Preceded byLt Gen. Hernando Iriberri[2]
Succeeded byLt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda
Vice Chairman of the National Task Force Against COVID-19
In office
March 16, 2020 – June 30, 2022
PresidentRodrigo Duterte
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byVacant
Co-Vice Chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict
In office
January 14, 2023 – April 15, 2026
Serving with Sara Duterte (2023–2024)
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byClarita Carlos
Succeeded byEduardo Oban
Personal details
BornEduardo Manahan Año
(1961-10-26) October 26, 1961 (age 64)[2]
San Mateo, Rizal, Philippines[2]
Philippine Military Academy(BS)
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Years of service
1983–2017
RankGeneral General[3]
Unit
Battles/wars

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, Año, along with the rest of the Philippine government's Cabinet Secretaries, became part of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a task force formed to advise the President on the strategies which would effectively manage the spread of COVID-19 in the country.[5]

Life and career

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Military career

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Then DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo M. Año with PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino during a press conference at the PDEA office in Quezon City, April 30, 2018.

Eduardo Manahan Año was born in San Mateo, Rizal on October 26, 1961. He graduated elementary as valedictorian. He entered the Philippine Military Academy and became a member of the PMA Matikas class of 1983, where he graduated as Cum Laude. He is also a graduate of the Scout Ranger Course and took courses in the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School in Arizona, and in the Israel Counter Terrorism Center in 2002. He finished on the top of his class in the International Officer Intelligence Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona in 1993, by earning a 100 percent grade rating in the course.[6][2] He also graduated Number One in all the military career courses he undertook namely; Command and General Staff Course, Infantry Officers Advance Course, Infantry Officers Basic Course and Tactical Intelligence Officer Course.

Año held various military positions primarily in the Military Intelligence Positions, before being appointed in infantry positions, such as commander of the Intelligence and Security Group of the Philippine Army, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP),[2][7] and commander of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division.[2] During his military service, he led the capture of Benito and Wilma Tiamzon of the Communist Party of the Philippines in 2014,[8] as well as the death of a New People's Army Commander, Leonardo Pitao, known as "Kumander Prago" in his term as commander of the 10th Infantry Division.[8][9] As ISAFP chief, Año was implicated in the kidnapping of activist Jonas Burgos. He was also accused of red-tagging civilians killed during the "Bloody Sunday" massacre.[10]

Año also served as the 57th Commanding General of the Philippine Army from July 14, 2015, to December 7, 2016, after he succeeded General Hernando Iriberri, where he continued his predecessor's approach in modernizing the Army while further enhancing the Army's intelligence capabilities, and strengthening the country's alliances with other countries such as the United States and ASEAN member states. Año was eventually named the 48th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines after serving his term as Army chief for 1 year and 5 months, from December 7, 2016, to October 26, 2017.

He received the Philippine Military Academy Cavalier Award in 1996 as an outstanding PMA Alumnus in the field of Army Operations. He is also a recipient of the Philippine Legion of Honor (Degree of Chief Commander) and the Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera (PGAT)[11] by the King of Malaysia.

Battle of Marawi

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Official portrait of Año as the AFP Chief of Staff.

During his term as the Chief of Staff of the AFP, he initiated and oversaw overall military operations against the Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorist groups during the 5-month long Battle of Marawi and launched an offensive operation to retake Marawi City and secure the city's outskirts to prevent any terrorist reinforcements entering the city, while encircling the city from all directions. Afterwards, he was appointed Martial Law Administrator in Mindanao during the declaration of martial law under Proclamation No. 216.[12] As Año's term as Chief of Staff was scheduled to end within October 26, 2017, he spent his last weeks in office finalizing the AFP's final offensive within Marawi City and killing the terrorist group's two key commanders, Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute on October 16, 2017.[13] 1 week later, on October 23, 2017, Año, along with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced the end of all military operations within Marawi City.[14] Año formally retired from military three days after the declaration of the conclusion of the Marawi Siege and was replaced by then-commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command, Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo Guerrero.[15]

Secretary of the Interior and Local Government

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President Rodrigo Duterte designated Año as officer-in-charge[16] of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in January 2018. Año could not be given the secretary post immediately because Republic Act 6975 prevents a retired or resigned military officer from being appointed as a secretary within one year from the date of their retirement or resignation.[17] He formally took oath as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government on November 6, 2018.[18] Human rights group Karapatan criticized Año's appointment to the DILG. Karapatan said that the Duterte administration tends to reward human rights violators instead of prosecuting them, adding that this allows impunity to prevail in the Philippines and noting how Año was implicated in the enforced disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos.[19]

As the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Año ordered local chief executives to spearhead the fight against COVID-19 in their own areas of jurisdictions.[20] He also exacted accountability from LGU and barangay officials who violate the policies, guidelines, and protocols issued by the IATF-EID.[21] Año supported the Duterte drug war around the time that International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requested authorization to investigate possible crimes against humanity committed during the drug war.[22]

Año ordered the shift in the government's counter-insurgency drive,[23] involving governors, mayors, and village chiefs to ensure good local governance and shared accountability with the private sector, civil society organizations, and the citizenry to address the issues which cause rifts and misunderstandings between government and the people.[24] His term as secretary ended on June 30, 2022, the last day of the Duterte administration.

National Security Adviser

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National Security Adviser Eduardo Año (2nd, right), Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (center), and Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque (1st, right) meets U.S. President Donald Trump (left) at the Roosevelt Room in the White House in Washington, D.C., July 22, 2025.

On January 14, 2023, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Año as National Security Adviser, replacing political scientist and commentator Clarita Carlos.[4]

In 2023, Año was the subject of protests by human rights groups due to his alleged judicial harassment of a Quezon City judge and human rights activists.[25]

On April 15, 2026, Año has formally resigned from his position as the National Security Adviser and was eventually accepted by President Bongbong Marcos, citing health concerns "that require my full attention and care" and "has become apparent that I must prioritize my health and well-being". He later thanked President Marcos for the trust given to him, his fellow cabinet members, and the national security community for their professionalism. Año was replaced by former AFP Chief Eduardo Oban.[26] [27]

Awards

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Military Awards

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Military Campaign and Service Medals

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  • Long Service Medal with three bronze service stars
  • Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
  • Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
  • Mindanao Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
  • Jolo and Sulu Campaign Medal
  • Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation Operation Ribbon with one bronze service star

Military Unit Citations

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Foreign Honors

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Military Badges

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Other Awards

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  • PMA Cavalier Award for Army Operations in 1996
  • PMA Cavalier Award for Public Administration in 2021
  • PMA Outstanding Achievement Award as Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government
  • PMA Outstanding Achievement Award as Chief of Staff Armed Forces of the Philippines
  • PMA Outstanding Achievement Award as Commanding General Philippine Army
  • Most Outstanding Anak ng San Mateo, Rizal Award - 2022
  • 2024 Asia’s Modern Hero Awards [29]

Personal life

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Eduardo Año is married to Jean Joselyn Maria R. Dioso and they have four children namely, Edwin Jr., Edward, Janelle Marie and Jasmine Claire. Año also underwent two heart bypass surgeries in 2021 and took two months of recovery instead of several days due to "many complications". He also stated that his two surgeries followed his two infections of COVID-19 that has affected his health, citing that he felt "very different" as he experiences difficulty breathing and rapid heartbeats.[26]

References

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  1. ↑ "Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año is new AFP Chief of Staff". CNN Philippines. December 7, 2016. Archived from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Profile: Major General Eduardo M. Año, Commanding General of the Army". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. July 15, 2015. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. ↑ Mangosing, Frances (January 5, 2017). "AFP chief gets his fourth star". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Valiente, Catherine (January 14, 2023). "Año in, Carlos out as national security adviser". The Manila Times. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Executive Order No. 168, "Creating the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Philippines."". The Lawphil Project. Arellano Law Foundation. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Eduardo M. Año" (PDF). National Power Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 18, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ "ISAFP to be expanded, not abolished, says chief".
  8. 1 2 "Analyzing Año". ABS-CBN News. January 6, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  9. ↑ Ilagan, Cheng (December 7, 2016). "Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año is new AFP Chief of Staff". Philippine Canadian Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Who are the Anti-Terrorism Council members under the Marcos Jr. administration?". Bulatlat. September 21, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  11. ↑ Bernama (October 14, 2017). "King confers 549 Armed Forces warrior awards | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  12. ↑ Gita, Ruth Abbey (May 24, 2017). "Duterte appoints Año as martial law administrator". SunStar. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Philippines military 'kills Islamist Isnilon Hapilon'". BBC News. October 16, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Philippines declares end of 5-month battle with IS in Marawi City". Nikkei Asia.
  15. ↑ "Duterte appoints Guerrero as new AFP chief". ABS-CBN News.
  16. ↑ "DILG welcomes Año's appointment as OIC, congratulates Cuy". Department of the Interior and Local Government. January 8, 2018. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  17. ↑ Nestor Corrales (November 5, 2018). "Año now officially DILG secretary". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  18. ↑ "Año is now officially DILG chief". ABS-CBN News. November 6, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Rights group slam appointment of Año as local government chief". Bulatlat. January 9, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Guides to Action Against "Coronavirus" (PDF)" (PDF). Department of the Interior and Local Government. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2021.
  21. ↑ "DILG issues show cause orders to 99 Manila villages". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  22. ↑ Rita, Joviland (July 7, 2021). "Anti-drug campaign will be sustained in last year of Duterte's term, Año says". GMA News Online. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  23. ↑ Partlow, Mary Judaline. "Año calls for gov't agencies' support to anti-insurgency drive". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  24. ↑ """Guidelines on the Implementation of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP)"" (PDF). Department of the Interior and Local Government. February 2, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Groups denounce Esperon, Año's filing of trumped-up charges vs judge, rights defenders". Bulatlat. August 31, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  26. 1 2 "Eduardo Año resigns as security adviser".
  27. ↑ Cabato, Gabryelle Dumalag, Luisa (April 15, 2026). "Marcos accepts Eduardo Año's resignation as national security adviser". INQUIRER.net.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ "Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff visits PACOM". www.pacom.mil.
  29. ↑ Castañeda, Jing. "Finding modern heroes in ourselves". Philstar.com.
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