Delfin Lorenzana

Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana, OLH, KGOR (born October 28, 1948) is a retired Philippine Army general who currently serves as the Chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority since 2022.

He served in the Philippine Army from 1973 to 2004.

Lorenzana graduated from the Philippine Military Academy as part of the Maagap Class of 1973.

He also obtained a master's degree in Business Administration, Major in Operations Research from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business; a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia; and a Certificate in Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific.

He completed various courses in the Philippines and abroad, which include Senior International Leaders Course at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Crisis Management Course at the US State Department, Washington DC; and VIP Security Operations conducted by British Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment.

As a military officer, he had completed several local and foreign training.

These included courses in infantry, scout ranger, intelligence, and airborne, culminating into the command and general staff course.

From abroad, he completed the Royal Marines Commando Course in United Kingdom, Infantry Officer Advanced Course in Fort Benning, Georgia, USA; and the Instructor's Course in Fort Gordon, Georgia, USA.

As Platoon leader and Company Commander, Lorenzana led men in the Mindanao and Luzon Campaigns against Moro National Liberation Front secessionists and NPA insurgents, respectively.

He also acted as staff officer of Army units up to Battalion level, and served as instructor at the Scout Ranger School and the Army Training Command (1985).

He also helped reorganize the Army Intelligence Unit after the EDSA Revolution.

As the Battalion Commander, Lorenzana was responsible for maintaining peace and order in Davao City outside the City Proper.

He supported, strengthened, and led the people-based Alsa Masa Movement to clear Davao City of insurgents, Sparrow units and other criminal groups, in coordination with the City Government under then newly elected Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and the Davao City Metropolitan District Command under Lt Col Franco Calida (PC).

Lorenzana developed operational and training plans for PSG units and personnel, and for the development of security plans for Malacañang Palace, then President Corazon Aquino, her family and other VIPs.

He assisted the Presidential Assistant for Military Affairs (PAMA) by ensuring that communications from GHQ to the Palace and vice versa were properly handled, quickly transmitted, monitored and returned.

He gained national prominence after successfully defending Malacañang against rebel soldiers who attempted to overrun the palace in November to December 1989, by making sure that PSG troops were in constant readiness.

Lorenzana was responsible for monitoring the operations of all Armed Forces units and commands all over the country.

He delivered daily summary and brief for the AFP Chief of Staff, and prepared staff studies on national security situation.

He also monitored and ensured that major AFP assets such as ships, aircraft, guns and special units are in readiness at all times.

He also concurrently served as Commander of the AFP Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) Battalion, where he led the RDF Battalion in successful operations against the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) insurgents in Camarines Sur and Southern Leyte.

Aside from making operations plans, troop deployment and Disaster Rescue Plans in SouthCom area encompassing the whole of Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, Lorenzana supervised the successful operation against the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group based in their Al-Madinah Camp in Basilan in May 1993.

Taking charge of the morale and welfare of the Army, Lorenzana managed all aspects pertaining to PA personnel from recruitment to retirement such as records management, career management, assignment, schooling, promotions, health, family support, and sports and recreation.

Among his notable accomplishments was the improvement of the personnel management database of the Philippine Army through computerization.

During this time, Lorenzana formualted operational plans, troop deployment plan and Disaster Rescue Plans for the entire island of Visayas.

He successfully supervised and managed security operations in the area.

With four Infantry Battalions, a 155 Howitzer battery and one Light Armor Company under his command, the division was responsible for maintaining peace and order in South Cotabato, part of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and Davao del Sur.

During this time, Lorenzana served as a member of the Government Peace Panel during talks with the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from 1998 to 2001.

With President Joseph Estrada's "all-out war" pronouncement against the MILF, Lorenzana's troops overran and captured three MILF camps during the AFP campaign from 1998 to 2000.

They then maintained peace and order in their area of operation, enabling the local and national government to pursue development projects without interference from lawless elements.

During this time, Lorenzana oversaw the training and maintenance of Armor personnel and assets and ensured that Armor personnel and assets are properly deployed and utilized by supported units, and that Armor units are properly provisioned and supplied.

As concurrent Ground Commander of the Task Force Libra, Lorenzana's unit was deployed in Metro Manila to maintain a ready ground force to maintain stability.

His forces secured former President Estrada while he was detained at the Veterans Medical Memorial Center and prevented pro-Erap forces from barging in the compound to free him.

Their division captured the kidnap-for-ransom leader Tahir Alonto and his group in July 1999 and brought three hostages to safety.

When Tahir Alonto's men attacked the General Santos Police prison in November 2000 to free their leader, Lorenzana's men succeeded in recovering more than 50 escapees.

On May 1, 2001, with three battalions of troops and armor assets, the unit effectively prevented the overrun of Malacañang Palace by about 70,000 pro-Erap mob who were bent on unseating then newly installed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

This dispersal operation was smoothly and peacefully accomplished, with only minor injuries to the operating troops and the pro-Erap mob.

Lorenzana was responsible for organizing, equipping, training and deploying Special Operations Command (SOCOM) forces all over the Philippines.

During his stint at SOCOM, he led the conduct of the successful Balikatan 01-1 exercises involving United States Special Forces and AFP personnel in Mindanao.

The exercise contributed to the recovery by SOCOM elements of the American couple Martin and Gracia Burnham from their Abu Sayyaf kidnappers in July 2002.

He previously served as Secretary of National Defense in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022.