DAVAO CITY – President Benigno Aquino III paid tribute to the members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation National organizing committee on Tuesday,giving out awards to recognize their splendid performance.
The Presidential Communications Operations Office said the recognition was held at the Malacañang Palace’s Reception Hall with 11 individuals from both the public and private sectors as the honorees.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., chairman of the APEC-NOC, received the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu) with gold distinction from the President.
The other awardees from the public sector were:
• Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario (APEC-NOC co-chair) – Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Cross (Bayani);
• Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin (APEC-NOC member) – Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu);
• Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento (APEC-NOC member) – Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu);
• Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri – Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander (Komandante);
• Philippine National Police Chief General Ricardo Marquez (Commander of the National Joint Task Force) – Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander (Komandante); and
• Brigadier General Apolinario Alobba (Deputy Commander of the National Joint Task Force) – Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Officer (Pinuno)
The honorees from the private sector were:
• Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (Chairperson of the APEC 2015 Private Sector Advisory Council) – Order of Gawad Mabini with the rank of Commander (Dakilang Kasugo);
• Doris Magsaysay-Ho (Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council) – Order of Gawad Mabini with the rank of Commander (Dakilang Kasugo);
• Tony Tan-Caktiong (Chair of the APEC CEO Summit) – Order of Gawad Mabini with the rank of Commander (Dakilang Kasugo); and
• Guillermo Luz (Chief Operating Officer of the APEC CEO Summit) – Presidential Medal of Merit
The Philippines hosted APEC from November 16 to 19. (davaotoday.com)
