Quezon City (August 15, 2024) – Secretary of National Defense (SND) Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. awarded the Outstanding Achievement Medal (OAM) to former Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Renato S. De Villa on Thursday at the DND Social Hall.

The OAM was presented to the 18th SND, Renato S. De Villa, in recognition of his extraordinary and distinguished achievements as Defense Secretary from July 20, 1991, to September 15, 1997.

Secretary Teodoro expressed his gratitude to Secretary De Villa for his steadfast commitment and exceptional service to the Department throughout his tenure.

“His brand of quiet leadership is a standard that I hope all Second Lieutenants will look up to, all Generals will look up to, all Major Service Commanders will look up to, all future Secretaries of National Defense will look up to, and all Executive Secretaries will look up to,” Secretary Teodoro said.

During his tenure as the DND Chief, Secretary De Villa also chaired the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), overseeing national-level disaster management and mitigation, relief and rescue operations, rehabilitation of calamity areas, and assistance to disaster victims.

Through these accomplishments, the former SND not only earned lasting honor for himself but also made significant contributions to the Defense Department and the Filipino nation.

Former SND Eduardo R. Ermita, former AFP Chief of Staff Alexander B. Yano, along with other high-ranking officials from the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, were also in attendance at the awarding ceremony.