Voltaire Gazmin first gained national prominence in 1986 as the loyal and disciplinarian Commander of the Presidential Security Group, defiantly defending the government of President Corazon C Aquino from seven 'coup attempts during her six-year term.
21 Facts About Voltaire Gazmin
2.
Voltaire Gazmin was honored multiple times in his military career for his skills in intelligence gathering and effectively commanding troops in some of the most difficult operations and for a long-term vision in administrative matters.
3.
Voltaire Gazmin was born on October 22,1944, in the town of Moncada, Tarlac, to Brig.
4.
Voltaire Gazmin spent his first two years in college at the University of the Philippines Diliman by taking up a course in Chemistry until he later decided to bid for a slot at the Philippine Military Academy.
5.
Voltaire Gazmin was successfully admitted into the academy at the start of the school year in 1964 and graduating on March 24,1968, choosing to serve in the Philippine Army.
6.
Voltaire Gazmin started with his primary education at St Paul College in 1949.
7.
Voltaire Gazmin would spend two years at the University of the Philippines taking up Bachelor of Science in Chemistry before being admitted to the Philippine Military Academy in 1964.
8.
Voltaire Gazmin first became Team Leader of the Home Defense Forces Group at the Army Special Warfare Brigade based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija province.
9.
Voltaire Gazmin served as intelligence officer for various units of the Army and distinguished himself during the brief insurgency war in Mindanao.
10.
Voltaire Gazmin would earn his first star and hold the title Brigadier General after nearly six years of distinguished service as Commander of the Presidential Security Group.
11.
Voltaire Gazmin would assume the post as the 40th Commanding General of the Philippine Army upon the appointment of President Joseph Estrada on July 13,1999, and would retire as a Lieutenant General on his 56th birthday on October 22,2000, the mandatory age of retirement for officers in the Philippines' military.
12.
On December 21,1969, then-Lieutenant Gazmin married his long-time fiancee, Rhodora Hernandez, with Senator Benigno S Aquino Jr.
13.
Voltaire Gazmin would extend courtesies to Aquino's wife, Corazon, when she visited her husband.
14.
Voltaire Gazmin was still on assignment in Mindanao when the People Power Revolution overthrew the Marcos government and installed Corazon Aquino as the 11th President on February 25,1986.
15.
Colonel Voltaire Gazmin helped defend President Aquino's government from at least seven coups d'etat, ending in December 1989, marked as the most bloodiest attempt to overthrow the democratic government of Aquino.
16.
Voltaire Gazmin kept close ties to Mrs Aquino and the rest of her family members while he returned to the Philippine Army and even after he disappeared from public view when he completed his tour of duty as Ambassador to Cambodia in 2004.
17.
Voltaire Gazmin served as a pallbearer for Aquino's casket during services at Manila Cathedral.
18.
Voltaire Gazmin's long standing integrity in service, professionalism and his distinguished loyalty to the Aquino family resulted in his temporary departure from retirement, to be called again to public service as Secretary of National Defense when Aquino assumed office on June 30,2010.
19.
From a relatively peaceful life in the farm, Voltaire Gazmin returned to the public eye as the Defense secretary of President Benigno Aquino III.
20.
Voltaire Gazmin started his term as Defense secretary with a commitment towards transparency and expediting processes without cutting corners.
21.
Voltaire Gazmin would implement President Aquino's directives to appoint and install new commanders in the various military positions including a complete over haul of the senior officers of the Armed Forces including the post of Chief-of-Staff.