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Sunday, March 19, 2006
Opposition loses outspoken soldier, ex-Viscom chief
Former Visayas Command (Viscom) head Brigadier Gen. Jesus Hermosa succumbed to cancer yesterday. He was 73.
Col. Jefferson Omandam, spokesman of the Central Command, said Hermosa died of cancer in the liver and pancreas at the command’s infirmary at 3:35 p.m.
His body now lies in state at the Cebu Rolling Hills in Mandaue City.
Hermosa’s firmness and bravery as a military general was tested in Cebu when the group of renegade Scout Rangers Choy dela Sala and Jose Sabandeja—after holding out in Barangay Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City—disobeyed an order for them to go back to their unit.
Hermosa had just assumed as Viscom chief in March 1988 when, a month later, he booted out the renegade soldiers from their lair by ordering a pre-dawn attack.
In the ensuing gunfight, both sides suffered casualties.
On Dec. 18 of the same year, Hermosa turned 56 and retired from service. He became active with the anti-Arroyo White Ribbon Movement before his illness sent him to Chong Hua Hospital last Jan. 8.
Engineer Edgar Hermosa, his nephew, said the former military chief stayed at the hospital for 45 days before they decided to transfer him to the Centcom infirmary.
He said his uncle’s wife Janette, children Jesus Alexander and Jesus Eneas, who are both abroad, and Jesus Achilles have not yet decided where and when to bury the general.
In one of his last public appearances, retired general Hermosa was among those who met another retired general, Abat, when Abat came to Cebu to discuss a “revolutionary transitory government” because he was sick of the “graft and scandals” in the Arroyo administration.
During his retirement, Hermosa was not shy about filing complaints at the anti-graft office against public officials who were accused of various anomalies, such as protecting illegal gamblers.
Three years ago, addressing the police during a flag-raising ceremony at Camp Sergio Osmeña, Hermosa said that while he had retired from public life, he still felt pained whenever he heard stories about law enforcers in nefarious activities.
“Every time I hear these stories, I’m disgusted and angry, because I share your triumph and your shame,” he told the police. (AIV)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 19, 2006 issue)
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