This Army buck private is now a one-star general

The Commission on Appointments unanimously confirmed yesterday the promotion of the first brigadier general in the Armed Forces who started his military service as a buck private.

Brig. Gen. Santiago Prejido, 54, was all smiles as he stood at attention while the bicameral body announced his confirmation, along with 19 other military officers led by controversial Maj. Gen. Romeo Dominguez.

Prejido has decidedly gone a long way since he enlisted 36 years ago as private in the Philippine Army.

Prejido, from Marawi City and Sogod, Cebu, said that he stopped his schooling at the University of San Carlos in 1966 when he read a report that the Armed Forces was recruiting volunteers for Vietnam.

"I was a member of Philcag I for two years. I went back to school when I returned while I remained in the service, and applied for commission in 1970 after I finished my AB at the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu," he added.

He said he was a duty sergeant when he was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1972. He steadily rose from the ranks until he became a colonel in 1995 and, yesterday, got his star. He is recipient of a Distinguished Service Star Medal, Bronze Cross Medal, 19 military merit medals and six military commendations.

Prejido is at present the commander of the 401st infantry brigade of the 4th Infantry Division based in Marawi City.

Among the military officers confirmed yesterday were Major Generals Carlos Garcia, Alfonso Dagudag and Glicerio Sua, Rear Admiral Ruben Domingo, Brig. Generals Jose Reyes and Felipe Berroya and Commodores Jose Alberto Velasco, Antonieto Ferrer and Edgardo Israel.

Also confirmed was Ambassador to Thailand Sonia Brady. Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano, acting chairman of the CA committee on foreign relations, said that President Arroyo is slated to undertake a state visit to Thailand on May 7, and it is imperative that Brady be confirmed before her visit.

Congress goes on Lenten recess today, with the unconfirmed appointees deemed bypassed. The Cabinet members bypassed are Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez III, Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez and Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin.

The CA has had numerous hearings on the appointment of the two Alvarezes, while no confirmation hearing has been held on Boncodin.

Also considered bypassed are Chairman Alfredo Benipayo and Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason, all of the Commission on Elections.