Efren L. Abu
GENERAL EFREN L ABU is the 33rd Commanding General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was the Vice Commander of the Philippine Army and later on became PA Commanding General, He was also the Commander of the AFP Joint Task Force Libra prior to his designation as Army Commander. He became Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division before he was designated as the Army Vice Commander on 01 August 2003.
Efren Abu was born in Batangas City, Batangas on 24 June 1949. He received his officer's commission in 1972 upon graduation from the Philippine Military Academy.
In the early years of his career, he became Platoon Leader of Bravo and Alpha Companies of the 27th Infantry Battalion and 29th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army respectively. He also became Company Commander of Bravo Company, 36IB and Operations Officer of 36IB, 4th Infantry Division. From then on, he held various positions in the different military units such as Chief, Production Division of the Counter Intelligence Security Administration (CISA); Executive Officer, 2nd General Headquarters Battalion, GHQ Brigade, AFP and Battalion Commander, 36th Infantry Battalion, 4ID, PA.
He was also designated as the Deputy Commander and Executive Officer of the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, G2, PA; Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence and Security Group, PA; Chief of Staff, Training and Doctrine Command, PA; Chief, Operations Division, OJ3, GHQ, AFP until he became Commanding Officer of the RDF Battalion in the AFP General Headquarters.
In September 1994, he was posted abroad as Defense and Armed Forces Attache to the Philippine Embassy in London, a position he held for almost three years. In July 1997, he served as Deputy Brigade Commander of the Light Armor Brigade, PA and then as The Brigade's Commanding General. Later, he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3, Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He finished various military courses such as Officer Orientation Course, Scout Ranger Course, Junior Staff Officer Course, Infantry Officer Basic Course; Seminar on Pre Command for Brigade Commanders, Infantry Officer Advance Course which he took up at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA; Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA and Seminar on Defense Management at ADFA, Canberra, Australia. He has a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines and a Master's Degree in War Studies from the King's College, University of London, United Kingdom. He finished Portfolio Management from the Financial Executive Institute of the Philippines.
He received numerous awards and decorations, which include among others the Distinguished Conduct Star Medals, Distinguished Service Star Medals, Gold Cross Medals, Outstanding Service Award, Cavalier Award, Outstanding Instructor Award, Military Merit Medals and others.
He is married to the former Lorna Agra of Pila, Laguna. They have five children: Christine Leigh, Kathrine Anne, Dianne Cherisse, Andrew Alexis and Nicole Marie.