Soldier who discovered Chinese structures in Spratlys gets promotion

MANILA, Philippines - The Air Force officer who discovered the Chinese military structures on Mischief Reef in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) has been promoted to two-star general.

Maj. Gen. Raul del Rosario, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, will wear his second star today (October 10) in a ceremony to be held in Camp Aguinaldo.

Also to be honored in the same ceremony is Brig. Gen. Guillermo Molina Jr., the incoming deputy chief of the Western Command (WESCOM), who has been promoted to one-star general. WESCOM secures the Philippines’ territories in the West Philippine Sea.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen, Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. is expected to preside over the donning ceremony.                                                                                           

A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Maharlika” class of 1984, del Rosario is a recipient of The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) 2011 award.

Del Rosario is also a recipient of two Distinguished Service Stars and four Bronze Cross Medals.

He was cited for his intelligence and counterintelligence operations, particularly his reconnaissance missions in 1994 that led to the discovery of military installations on Mischief Reef and Kalayaan Islands.

Locally known as Panganiban Reef, Mischief Reef is located about 130 nautical miles off Palawan and has been occupied by China since 1995.

China initially constructed structures on stilts at the reef, supposedly to provide shelter for fishermen but these were later on converted into a military garrison with powerful radars.

In 1997, he was credited for providing photographs of a Chinese flotilla in battle formation that forced China to remove its military ships from Philippine territories.

Del Rosario also supervised a mission that led to the death of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Bader Parad along with five other terrorists.

Molina, the other officer who got promoted, is the outgoing Deputy Commander of the Air Education and Training Command and a graduate of PMA “Sinagtala” class of 1986.

He was the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Plans and Commander of Tactical Operations Group 5.

“The promotions are part of a soldier’s progressive military career. The new star on their shoulder represents a bigger responsibility,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said.