20 Facts About Alfredo Santos

Alfredo Manapat Santos was Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1962 to 1965, making him the first four-star general of the Philippines' armed forces.

Alfredo Santos graduated at Mapua Institute of Technology with a degree in Bachelor of Science in civil engineering in 1931.

Alfredo Santos showed interest in the military when he graduated on the top of his ROTC class at the University of the Philippines as a cadet colonel and corps commander in 1929.

Alfredo Santos entered the Reserve Officer Service School at Camp Henry T Allen in Baguio City, where he was made the battalion commander.

Alfredo Santos graduated at the top of his class, and twenty years after, he was honored as its Most Distinguished Alumnus.

Alfredo Santos was given the hazardous mission of closing the gaps and annihilating the enemy troops who had infiltrated the lines as the gap posed a serious threat to the positions and the security of the division.

Alfredo Santos led a counter-attack against the strong and numerically superior Japanese forces positioned between the MLR and the Regimental Reserve Line.

Major Alfredo Santos was ordered to surrender his unit to the Imperial Japanese Forces, which he reluctantly did on April 12,1942.

Alfredo Santos was released from the concentration camp on August 10,1942.

Alfredo Santos fought with the American and Filipino soldiers in the liberation of Manila from February to March 1945.

Alfredo Santos returned to military control at the end of the liberation campaign that year and was assigned at Camp Murphy as camp inspector of the 2nd Camp Complement.

Alfredo Santos knew what he wanted in his career and to him a diversion like that of the appointive offer would adversely affect his plan to attain the highest position in the military hierarchy.

Subsequently, Colonel Alfredo Santos was given command of the Panay Task Force, composed of the 15th Battalion Combat Team with some elements of the 9th BCT and the PC commands of Iloilo, Capiz and Antique.

Alfredo Santos made history when Guillermo Capadocia, erstwhile secretary general and one of the founders of the Communist Party of the Philippines, was captured at Barrio Yubog in San Remigio, Antique.

Alfredo Santos organized a civilian commando unit headed by Pedro Valentin, a mountain leader who knew the people and the terrain very well.

Six days after his second achievement, Colonel Alfredo Santos was appointed ad interim brigadier general by President Ramon Magsaysay, a well-deserved appointment which was confirmed by the Commission of Appointments on May 4,1955.

Alfredo Santos later was nominated and subsequently installed as the first chief of SEATO Military Planning Office with headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand on March 1,1957.

Alfredo Santos was deeply concerned with the welfare of his men and endeavored to improve the living conditions of the enlisted personnel and their families, raising their morale and improving discipline in the command.

The latest honor bestowed upon General Alfredo Santos was his election into the Allied Officers Hall of Fame at the United States Army Command and General Staff at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, US.

Alfredo Santos received the Certificate of Honor from US Ambassador Henry A Byroade in simple ceremonies held at the US Embassy, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, on April 14,1973.