Introduction
Established by virtue of Army Circular No. 60 on July 3, 1947, the Philippine Legion of Honor is the oldest of the three Senior Honors of the Republic. It is the Order of Defense Merit of the Philippines. Its highest rank, that of Chief Commander, is the highest honor that the President of the Philippines may grant an individual without the concurrence of Congress.
The Philippine Legion of Honor is awarded by the President of the Philippines. It may also be awarded by the Secretary of National Defense on behalf of the President.
Originally, the Philippine Legion of Honor had four ranks, called degrees, with Legionnaire as the lowest and Chief Commander as the highest and most prestigious. However, on September 19, 2003, the ranks of the Philippine Legion of Honor were expanded to six. This only applies to civilian awards, as the Armed Forces retains only four ranks, called degrees, for the Philippine Legion of Honor.
Recipients conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor may be reawarded the same rank or degree. In such cases, following military practice, a bronze Anahaw leaf is conferred each time the award is reconferred, in lieu of an actual medal.
Criteria
Recipients of the Philippine Legion of Honor may be Filipino citizens or foreigners. It is awarded for meritorious service in military or defense affairs or for contributions to the preservation of the honor of the Republic of the Philippines. It is conferred upon civilians for military or defense service or for life achievement in public service. In the military it is conferred upon personnel who have performed exceptionally in the conduct of their duties.
Ranks
Civilian ranks were instituted by virtue of Executive Order No. 236, s. 2003 and Military Degrees were instituted by virtue of AFPR G 131-053, s-86. The following table shows the distinction between civilian ranks and military degrees:
| Rank/Degree | Conferred on: |
| Chief Commander | Civilian: For life achievement in public service not otherwise qualifying for the Quezon Service Cross; or upon a former or incumbent head of state and/or of government.Military: Chief of State, Prime Minister, Head of Government |
| Grand Commander | Civilian: For singular acts of service with a tangible impact on the Philippine military sphere; or upon a Crown Prince, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice or the equivalent, foreign minister or other official of cabinet rank; or upon an Ambassador, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretary, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing. |
| Grand Officer | Civilian: For acts of exemplary merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Charge d’affaires, e.p., Minister, Minister Counselor, Consul General heading a consular post, Executive Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing. |
| Commander | Civilian: For acts of conspicuous merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Charge d’affaires, a.i., Counselor, First Secretary, Consul General in the consular section of an Embassy, Consular officer with a personal rank higher than Second Secretary, Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.Military: Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Commanders of Major Services, President of the Senate, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Heads of Departments |
| Officer | Civilian: For acts of commendable merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Second Secretary, Consul, Assistant Director, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.Military: Military Personnel not qualifying for a Distinguished Service Star. |
| Legionnaire | Civilian: For acts of merit benefiting the Republic of the Philippines; or upon a Third Secretary, Vice Consul, Attaché, Principal Assistant, or other person of a rank similar or equivalent to the foregoing.Military: Military Personnel for meritorious conduct but lesser than the degree of Officer of more than the Military Medal of Merit |
Roster of awardees:
Rank of Chief Commander
Roxas administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt (posthumous) | Former U.S. President | July 4, 1947 |
Quirino administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-Shek | President of Taiwan | 1949 |
| Achmed Soekarno | President of Indonesia | February 3, 1951 |
| Generalissimo Francisco Franco | Head of the Spanish State | October 7, 1951 |
Magsaysay administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Maxwell Tailor | U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | 1955 |
Garcia Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Emilio Aguinaldo | Former President | July 3, 1957 |
| Jose P. Laurel | Former President | March 9, 1959 |
| Douglas MacArthur | Philippine Field Marshal | 1961 |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | Former President of the United States | April 9, 1961 |
Marcos administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Ferdinand E. Marcos | President | September 11, 1972 |
| Imelda Romualdez Marcos | First Lady |
Corazon Aquino administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Lorenzo Tañada | Senator, Jurist, Parliamentarian and Statesman | August 10, 1986 |
| Claudio Teehankee | Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines | April 21, 1988 |
| Joaquin “Chino” Roces | Publisher | October 5, 1988 |
| Jaime Cardinal Sin | Archbishop of Manila | 1992 |
Ramos Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Sergio Osmeña | President of the Philippines | October 20, 1994 |
| Haji Hassanal Bolkiah | Sultan of Brunei Darussalam | March 5, 1998 |
Arroyo Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Akihito | Emperor of Japan | December 3, 2002 |
| Delfin N. Bangit | Former Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 22, 2010 |
Benigno S. Aquino III Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Stephen J. Solarz | United States Senator | December 10, 2010 |
| Teodoro C. Benigno | Journalist | February 26, 2011 |
| Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. | Jesuit | February 26, 2011 |
| Gen. Ricardo A. David, Jr. | Former Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines | March 7, 2011 |
| Jesus V. Ayala | Industrialist | April 30, 2011 |
| Eduardo SL Oban, Jr. | Former Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines | December 12, 2011 |
| Jesse M. Robredo{{1}} | Secretary of the Interior and Local Government | August 28, 2012 |
| Hilary Rodham Clinton | United States Secretary of State | January 16, 2013 |
| Gregorio P. Catapang | Former Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 10, 2015 |
Rank of Grand Commander
Arroyo Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Emilio T. Yap | Chairman of Manila Bulletin | October 6, 2006 |
| Gilbert C. Teodoro, Jr. | Secretary of National Defense | November 16, 2009 |
| Jaime Zobel de Ayala | Chairman of the Help Educate and Rear Orphans Foundation | December 24, 2009 |
Benigno S. Aquino III Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Napoleon G. Rama | Constitutional Commissioner | February 26, 2011 |
Rank of Grand Officer
Arroyo Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. | Representative | February 7, 2002 |
Rank of Commander
Roxas Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Tomas Confesor | Guerrilla leader | – |
Quirino Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Myron Cowen | U.S Ambassador | November 11, 1951 |
| Paul V. McNutt | First U.S. Ambassador | May 27, 1952 |
| Alfredo Montelibano, Sr. | Governor/Guerrilla leader | 1952 |
Magsaysay Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. | Journalist | 1954 |
| J. E. Hull | Commander-in-Chief United Nations Command | 1955 |
Garcia Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Wendell Switzer | Rear Admiral | April 15, 1957 |
| R. McCoullough Dick | Publisher, Philippines Free Press | August 7, 1958 |
| Theo Rogers | Business Manager, Philippines Free Press | August 7, 1958 |
| Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. (first Bronze Anahaw leaf) | Presidential Assistant | 1958 |
| Narciso Ramos | Diplomat (for guerrilla services) | February 11, 1959 |
| Alfredo Lozano | – | July 15, 1960 |
Marcos Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Walter Schirra, Jr. | American astronaut | March 6, 1966 |
| Frank Borman | American astronaut | March 6, 1966 |
| Marvin McNickle | Lieutenant General | August 14, 1972 |
| Juan Ponce Enrile | Secretary Of National Defense | December 21, 1974 |
| Radin S. Subyakto | Chief of Staff, Indonesian Navy | January 30, 1976 |
| Ro Jae Hyun | Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Republic of Korea | February 26, 1976 |
| J.N. Irwin II | U.S. Ambassador | – |
Aquino Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Juan Ponce Enrile (first bronze Anahaw leaf) | Sec. of National Defense | November 27, 1986 |
| Jaime Ferrer (posthumous) | Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways | August 7, 1987 |
| Roberto Villanueva | Chairman, Coordinating Council of the Philippine Assistance Program | May 23, 1990 |
| Catalino Macaraig | Executive Secretary | December 26, 1990 |
| Washington Sycip | Businessman, SGV Group | June 30, 1991 |
| June Kiethley | Journalist | – |
| Dr. Mita Pardo de Tavera | Secretary of Health | – |
| Jose B. Laurel, Jr. | Former Speaker | July 19, 1991 |
| Jose de Jesus | Cabinet Secretary | June, 1992 |
| Jesus Estanislao | Secretary of Finance | July 19, 1991 |
| Renato de Villa | Secretary of Defense | – |
| Franklin Drilon | Executive Secretary | 1992 |
| Fidel V. Ramos (Second Bronze Anahaw Leaf) | Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces | March 18, 1988 |
| Fidel V. Ramos (Third Bronze Anahaw Leaf) | Secretary of National Defense | July 19, 1991 |
Ramos Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Eufemio Domingo | Commissioner-COA | June 30, 1993 |
| Carlos P. Romulo (posthumous) | Brig. General, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs | October 20, 1994 |
| Lt. Gen. Rafael Ileto | Secretary of National Defense | October 20, 1994 |
| Col. Ruperto Kangleon (posthumous) | Guerrilla leader | October 20, 1994 |
| Dir. Gen. Recaredo Sarmiento | Director-General of the Philippine National Police | 1998 |
| Bob Filner | Member US Congress | April 9, 1998 |
| Alexander Aguirre | Executive Secretary | May 13, 1998 |
| Feliciano Gacis | Undersecretary of the Dept. of National Defense | May 13, 1998 |
| Eduardo R. Ermita | AFP Vice Chief of Staff | March 31, 1988 |
| Juanita Amatong | Chairperson of Philippine Panel of the Sub-Committee on Economics and Finance | June 5, 1998 |
Estrada Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Joseph W. Prueher | Admiral, United States Navy | January 12, 1999 |
Arroyo Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. | Director-General, PNP | August 24, 2004 |
| Nemesio Sigaya | Maj. Gen. PAF | November 11, 2004 |
| Thomas Boulton Fargo | Commander, United States Pacific Command and Co-Chairman of the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty | February 9, 2005 |
| Angelo Reyes | Former Armed Forces Chief of Staff | March 17, 2001 |
| Benjamin J. Cayetano | Governor of Hawaii | October 24, 2002 |
| Benjamin R. Mixon | Commander, United States Army | January 26, 2010 |
| Delfin N. Bangit | Former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces | June 11, 2010 |
| Arturo C. Lomibao | Chief of the Philippine National Police | July 5, 2006 |
| Hermogenes C. Esperon | Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces | May 9, 2008 |
| Generoso S. Senga | Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces | July 21, 2006 |
| Tan Sri Dato Sri Azizan Bin Ariffin | General of the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces | December 15, 2009 |
| Victor S. Ibrado | Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces | March 10, 2010 |
| Jesus A. Verzosa | Chief of the Philippine National Police | June 15, 2010 |
| Rodolfo C. Garcia | Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces | July 12, 2004 |
| Victor S. Ibrado | Commanding General of the Philippine Army | May 3, 2009 |
| Dato’ Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin | Head of Mission, International Monitoring Fund | December 7, 2005 |
| Nemensio Sigaya | Major General of the Philippine Air Force | November 11, 2004 |
Benigno S. Aquino III Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Jesus A. Verzosa (First Bronze Anahaw Leaf) | Chief of the Philippine National Police | September 14, 2010 |
| Danilo Cortez | Philippine Navy Flag Officer | January 4, 2011 |
| William M. Esposo | Columnist | February 26, 2011 |
| Reynaldo Mapagu | Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces | June 17, 2011 |
| Raul M. Bacalzo | Chief of the Philippine National Police | September 9, 2011 |
| Arturo B. Ortiz | Commanding General of the Philippine Army | November 9, 2011 |
| Oscar H. Rabena | Chief of the Philippine Air Force | January 10, 2012 |
| Nicanor Ancheta Bartolome | Director-General of the Philippine National Police | December 18, 2012 |
| Jessie D. Dellosa | Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | January 17, 2013 |
| Hernando Delfin Carmelo A. Iriberri | Commanding General of the Philippine Army | July 15, 2015 |
| Leonardo A. Espina | Deputy Director General of the Philippine National Police | July 16, 2015 |
| Jesus C. Millan | Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy | August 10, 2015 |
Rank of Officer
Quirino Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. | Journalist | 1950 |
| William A. Dolan | Captain, US Navy | February 13, 1951 |
| Harvey Woods | Lieutenant, US Navy | February 13, 1951 |
| Frank Snyder | Lieutenant Colonel | February 16, 1951 |
| Congdon Curts | Major | April 30. 1952 |
| William K. Clark | Major | April 30, 1952 |
| Lecher O. Grice | Brigadier General, AUS | August 27, 1952 |
| Howard L. Peckham | Brigadier General, AUS | August 27, 1952 |
| H. Arnold Karo | United States Navy | – |
Magsaysay Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Alex E. Lancaster | Lieutenant Colonel, USA | March 24, 1954 |
| Walter Williams | Captain, USN | March 24, 1954 |
| Manalao Mindalano | – | March 24, 1954 |
Marcos Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Philip Sears | Colonel, USA | July 17, 1972 |
Aquino Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Alex Esclamado | Published and Editor-in-Chief, Philippine News Canada | May 9, 1989 |
| Proceso Hernandez | Commodore 0-4396 AFP | September 17, 1990 |
| Tereso Isleta | Brigadier General 0-4689 AFP | September 17, 1990 |
| Arturo Enrile | Brigadier General 0-4610 AFP | September 17, 1990 |
| Ernesto Calupig | Brigadier General 0-4558 AFP | September 17, 1990 |
| Orlando Soriano | Brigadier General 0-4659 AFP | September 17, 1990 |
| Bayani Matic | Commodore 0-4545 AFP | September 17, 1990 |
| Juanito Aquino | Brigadier General 0-4552 AFP | September 17, 1990 |
| Pablo Galvez | Colonel 0-4595 PA GSC | September 17, 1990 |
| Manuel Mariano | Colonel 0-4617 PA GSC | September 17, 1990 |
Ramos Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Joaquin Roces | Editor-in-Chief, Manila Times | June 30, 1998 |
| Samilo Barlongay | Commissioner-CSC | June 30, 1993 |
| Aqlani Maza | General | September 2, 1997 |
| Juanita Dy-Amatong | Undersecretary of the Department of Finance | May 13, 1998 |
| Nabil Tan | Vice-Governor, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao | May 13, 1998 |
| Rudy Rodil | Professor, Mindanao State University | May 13, 1998 |
| Apolinario Lozada | Appointments Secretary | June 23, 1998 |
| Norman Legaspi | Lt. Col. | June 23, 1998 |
| Major Renoir Pascua | Special Assistant to the President | June 23, 1998 |
| William Padolina | Secretary of Science and Technology | June 23, 1998 |
| Victor Ramos | Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources | June 23, 1998 |
| Gregorio Vigilar | Secretary of Public Works and Highways | June 23, 1998 |
| Francisco Viray | Secretary of Energy | June 23, 1998 |
| Renato Valencia | Administrator of the Social Security System | June 23, 1998 |
| Raul S. Manglapus | Chairman, Philippine National Oil Company | June 23, 1998 |
| Delfin Lazaro | Secretary of Energy | June 23, 1998 |
Estrada Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| William Padolina | Secretary of Science and Technology | February 1, 1999 |
| Efren “Bata” Reyes | Professional Billiards Player | August 31, 1999 |
Arroyo Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Vidad Erfe Querol | Chief Superintendent, PNP | February 7, 2002 |
| Alfonso Dagudag | Major General | March 23, 2002 |
| Alejandro T. Camagay, Jr. | Commander of the Philippine Air force | February 18, 2010 |
| Felipe G. Tabas, Jr. | Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | May 28, 2010 |
| Felizardo M Serapio, Jr. | Director of Western Mindanao, Philippine National Police | January 11, 2010 |
| Nelson L. Allaga | Commander of the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 16, 2009 |
| Pedro Ike I. Inserto | Commander of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | January 21, 2009 |
| Jaime B. Buenafo | Commander of the National Development Support Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | November 6, 2009 |
| Jogy Leo L. Fojas | Commander of the National Capital Region of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | November 2, 2009 |
| Reynaldo B. Mapagu | Commanding General of the Philippine Army | March 23, 2009 |
| Mario A. Catacutan | Rear Admiral and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | April 8, 2010 |
| Arthur P. Macenido | Commander of the Air Logistics Command | March 12, 2010 |
| Ralph A. Villanueva | Commander of the 7th Division of the Philippine Army | March 22, 2010 |
| Nathaniel C. Legaspi | Major-General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 3, 2010 |
| Nelson L. Allaga | Lieutenant-General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 3, 2010 |
| Ramon T. Punzalan | Rear Admiral, Philippine Navy | July 16, 2009 |
Benigno S. Aquino III Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Francisco Cruz | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Gaudencio Pangilinan | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Vicente Agdamag | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Geronimo Defensor | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Roberto Estioko | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Eriberto Suria | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Hilario Atendido | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Romulo Supapo | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Leonardo Calderon | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Ramon Espera | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Antonio Oliquino | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Vicente Porto | Armed Forces of the Philippines | June 17, 2011 |
| Romeo Lustestica | Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 20, 2011 |
| Jovencio Magalso | Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 20, 2011 |
| Emmanuel Bautista | Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 20, 2011 |
| Romeo Lustestica | Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 20, 2011 |
| Datuk Baharom Bin Hamzah | Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 20, 2011 |
| Gaudencio Pangilinan | Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 20, 2011 |
| Artemio Orozco | Armed Forces of the Philippines | July 20, 2011 |
| Oscar Lactao | Armed Forces of the Philippines | December 18, 2014 |
| Alexander Balutan | Armed Forces of the Philippines | December 18, 2014 |
Rank of Legionnaire
Roxas Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Teodoro M. Locsin | guerrilla | March 5, 1947 |
| Lorenzo M. Tañada | guerrilla | March 5, 1947 |
| Jose B.L. Reyes | guerrilla | March 5, 1947 |
| Rafael Roces (posthumous) | guerrilla | March 5, 1947 |
Quirino Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| 10 U.S. Servicemen | – | February 16, 1951 |
| John A. Renninger | Corporal | April 30, 1952 |
| Oscar Johnson, Jr | Corporal | April 30, 1952 |
| James N. McElroy | Corporal | April 30, 1952 |
| Ralph E. Haukins | Sergeant | April 30, 1952 |
| Henry E. Ambrose | Sergeant | April 30, 1952 |
| Kenneth I. Withey | SFC | April 30, 1952 |
| Edith Nourse Rogers | Nurse | June 10, 1953 |
| Francis Turner | Headed rehabilitation of Philippine roads, 1946 | 1951 |
Magsaysay Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Maria Tojale | Resistance member | March 24, 1954 |
| Valeriano Ibanez Abello | Resistance member | 1956 |
Garcia Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Geronima Pecson | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Concepcion M. Trias | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Ruby Roxas | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Maria Carmen G. Ford | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Carmen Sapinoso de Rivera | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Conchita Liboro Benitez | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Betty Magalona Gomez | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Fanny Adarna | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Conchita Sunico | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
| Lourdes Alunan | Resistance member | April 9, 1958 |
Ramos Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Yusuf Ashral Tugung | – | June 30, 1993 |
| Richard Sakakida | Lieutenant Colonel, USA | April 15, 1994 |
| Luis Morales | Vice Chairman, National Centennial Commission | June 23, 1998 |
Arroyo Administration
| Name | Position | Date |
| Fighter Squadron 201 of the Mexican Expeditionary Air Force (Unit Citation) | Fought in Liberation of the Philippines, 1944-45 | November 22, 2004 |
[[1]] Read the President’s citation for Secretary Robredo.[[1]]
