Delfin Negrillo Lorenzana, OLH, KGOR (born October 28, 1948) is a retired Philippine Army general who served as Chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority from 2022 until September 2024. He previously served as Secretary of National Defense in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022. He served in the Philippine Army from 1973 to 2004.
Education and training 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.
Military career
Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Staff Officer: March 1973 – April 1987 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.
Battalion Commander, 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion, 6th Infantry Division, Davao City: April 1987 – August 1989 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).
Presidential Security Group (PSG): September 1989 – June 1991 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.
Deputy Chief, Joint Operations Center, General Headquarters: May 1992 – April 1994 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.
Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Operations (U3), Headquarters, Southern Command: April – September 1993 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.
Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel (G1), Philippine Army: April 1993 – January 1998 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.
Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Operations (U3), Headquarters, Visayas Command: September 1993 – May 1994 During this time, Lorenzana formulated 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.
Commanding Officer, 601st Infantry Brigade, 6th Division: January 1998 – February 2001 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.
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.
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.
Commander, Army Light Armored Brigade: March 2001 – July 2001 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. 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.
Commander, Special Operations Command: July 2001 – July 2002 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.
Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C.
Special Presidential Representative for Veterans Affairs, Philippine Embassy, Washington, DC As former head of Veterans Affairs Office, Lorenzana developed and implemented the Philippine campaign to obtain veterans benefits for Filipino soldiers who served under the United States Army during World War II. He also coordinated closely with Philippine-based Filipino veterans on the lobby effort.
He also helped secure $0.5M annual grant-in-aid for the Veterans Memorial Medical Center 2003-2015 that totaled $12M+ over twelve years, and worked for the unification of Filipino-American efforts in support of the World War II (WW2) Filipino veterans equity lobby in the United States. This unified effort was instrumental in the passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund with an appropriation of $198M on February 17, 2009. An additional $67M was appropriated in 2010 for a total of $265M that awarded $9K/$15K for each qualified surviving Filipino WW2 veteran (naturalized US Citizens/Filipinos).
Notably, Lorenzana also lobbied for the Parole Program for children of Filipino WW2 veterans to join their parents in the United States. This was signed thru Executive Order by US President Obama in July 2015 and is now being implemented by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Defense and Armed Forces Attaché His last posting as a military officer was as defense attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., US, where he retired in 2004 with the rank of major general.
As Defense and Armed Forces Attaché, he oversaw and monitored the military bilateral relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States on the Visiting Forces Agreement, military exercises, military aid, military training and foreign military sales. He also monitored and supported the Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel on schooling in the United States.
Lorenzana also helped develop the Terms of Reference for the highly successful Balikatan 02-2 Exercises between the AFP and the US Pacific Command in Basilan Philippines in 2002, to support military operations aimed to neutralize the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in Southern Philippines.
Likewise, he assisted the Philippine Ambassador to the United States in obtaining military assistance from the US namely: Foreign military sales amounting close to $100M, military training and exercises amounting to $9M, and the grant-in-aid of 20 Huey helicopters and 1 Cyclone Special Operations ship.
Secretary of National Defense
After Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 presidential election, Lorenzana was named as the incoming Secretary of National Defense. He took office on the same day as Duterte, June 30, on an ad interim basis. In an interview with Reuters, he announced that crushing Abu Sayyaf, supporting the war against drugs, and enforcing sovereignty in the South China Sea will be his priorities. However, in August, Duterte offered the position of defense secretary to Gilbert Teodoro, who served in that position under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He then offered Lorenzana to become ambassador to the United States. Both men declined their respective offers, thus Lorenzana stayed as defense secretary. His appointment was then confirmed by the bicameral Commission on Appointments on October 19.
As Defense Chief, he has directed the completion of high-impact programs to enhance the country's territorial defense, internal security operations, total force capability build-up, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and international defense security engagements. At the same time, he also watches over the operations of the department's civilian bureaus - managing disaster preparedness, developing self-reliant defense industry, and improving the welfare and wellbeing of the country's defenders - the Filipino veterans and our soldiers, as well as their families.