Ariel Querubin

Ariel Porfirio Oliva Querubin (born March 28, 1956) is a retired Philippine Marine Corps officer and a recipient of the Philippines' highest military award for courage, the Medal of Valor. He is highly decorated soldier in the Philippines and was placed in various positions in the military prior to his retirement in 2010.

Early life and education Querubin was born in Dagupan, Pangasinan. He grew up in La Union and studied in Manila.

In his youth, Querubin found himself involved in various misadventures. These youthful indiscretions nearly prevented him from graduating from the Philippine Military Academy. However, this experience helped temper his exuberance, and by the time he graduated, his academic performance allowed him to choose which branch of the military he would serve in. Querubin met his wife, Pong Azcarraga, while still in service with the Marines. Pong had two young sons from a previous relationship: Martin Loon, now the CEO of Cocolife, and John Michael Loon, a highly decorated marine officer who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy and served in the Battle of Marawi in 2017. Together, Querubin and Pong have four children: Alfred, Faye, Jaq, and John.

Military career Querubin is a highly decorated military officer renowned for his courageous career and combat exploits. He has 67 battle and artillery scars throughout his service. Querubin holds the distinction of being one of the most highly decorated officers in Philippine military history, having received a total of 49 medals. Notably, he is a recipient of the prestigious Medal of Valor, the highest honor bestowed upon those who have displayed extraordinary heroism and sacrifice in combat situations.

He has actively participated in various military operations against the Communist insurgency in the Philippines and the Moro conflict. He is credited with neutralizing several rebel leaders from both the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). This includes the elimination of a CPP-NPA provincial chairman in 1981, four MNLF commanders in 1983, an NPA commander known as "Ka Ninong" in 1988, and an MNLF commander named Racquel Carreon in the same year. Additionally, Querubin is said to have played a role in the rescue operation of Hans Kunzli, a Swiss national who was kidnapped by a group led by a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front.

Participation in the 1989 coup attempt

In 1989, then-Captain Querubin was a co-founder of the Young Officers' Union (YOU). The YOU, along with another group known as the "Soldiers of the Filipino People" (SFP) and the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) participated in the attempted ouster against Corazon Aquino's government. He almost died in clashes with troops loyal to the government. Some reports indicate that he suffered from a gunshot wound; Querubin himself stated that he was wounded by a rocket blast during clashes in Camp Aguinaldo.

Kidnapping by Abu Sayyaf Group and pursuit On June 8, 1994, the Abu Sayyaf militant group, a breakaway faction from the MNLF, carried out a kidnapping operation. Their target was a group of 75 civilians, including men, women, children, and a parish priest named Fr. Cirilo Nacorda. The Abu Sayyaf, led by the notorious commander Barahama Sali, who was known for his expertise with weapons and extreme brutality, separated the captives based on their religious beliefs. They released all the Muslim hostages but killed 16 Christians and took the remaining individuals, mostly teachers and Fr. Nacorda, as hostages. Medal of Valor citation:

LIEUTENANT COLONEL ARIEL O. QUERUBIN 0-7901 Philippine Navy (Marines)(GSC)For acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer, Marine Battalion Landing Team-1, Philippine Marine Corps., Philippine Navy during a 24-hour firefight against an estimated 300 fully armed men belonging to the separatists Moro Islamic Liberation Front at Brgy. Inudaran, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte from 18 to 19 March 2000. Tasked to capture the formidable MILF Camp John Mack (ABDULLATEF), headquarters of the 303rd Brigade, 3rd Field Division of the MILF commanded by the notorious Abdul Rahman G. Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, LIEUTENANT COLONEL QUERUBIN spearheaded the 1st MBLT composed of 117 officers and men in this hazardous mission against the enemy, superior in numbers and mastery of the terrain, and believed responsible for the spate of bombings in Central Mindanao and the siege of and hostage-taking at Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. On or about 1815H March 2000, while enroute to their objective, he and his men were subjected to heavy volume of fire by rebels from their well-entrenched dug outs, bunkers and trenches. Unable to maneuver due to darkness and intense devastating fires from both heavy and light machineguns, B-40 rockets, mortar and snipers, he nevertheless ordered his men to hold the line and directed the Special Operations Squad to close in on the enemy camp and pinpoint its location to the Marines battalion artillery supporting fires, and the V-300 and V-150 armored vehicles to dislodge the enemy from their heavily fortified bunkers. Unmindful of his own safety, LIEUTENANT COLONEL QUERUBIN continuously moved from one forward position to another, thus drawing enemy fires to his own location, purposely to pinpoint enemy targets for their artillery support fires. The battle which had raged continuously until the following day, did not deter him from rallying his men in repulsing wave after wave of enemy reinforcement and continued assaults in their attempt to encircle his unit. Despite dwindling ammunition and increasing casualties on their side, subject officer never lost his aggressive spirit as he continued to move around while urging and inspiring his men, included the wounded, to continue. Under his inspiring leadership, his men fought ferociously forcing the enemy’s last line of defense to collapse and sending them scampering to different directions along with their dead and wounded and leaving behind their vaunted rocket launchers and high-powered firearms as well as documents of high intelligence value. The capture of Camp John Mack resulted in the neutralization of the MILF’s most strategic staging area for operations and, more importantly, liberated the residents along the coastal municipalities of Lanao del Norte from the oppressive MILF revolutionary collection estimated at P38M annually. By this gallant deed, LIEUTENANT COLONEL QUERUBIN distinguished himself in combat in the finest tradition of Filipino Soldiery.

After a brief respite in East Timor, Querubin found himself once again confronted by the presence of Abu Sabaya upon his return to Zamboanga City for the Christmas holidays. This time, Sabaya was reintroduced to Querubin by a friend of his who happened to be a former classmate of Querubin's wife. The standoff was resolved that evening. Querubin was detained at Camp Aguinaldo and recommended to undergo pretrial investigation and facing a mutiny charge.

In 2010, President Benigno Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 50, granting amnesty to military personnel linked to the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the 2006 Fort Bonifacio standoff and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.

Retirement Querubin was deemed resigned on 30 November 2009 but formally retired on 23 December 2021 when the Philippine Marine Corps tendered his long-awaited retirement and testimonial ceremony.

Political career 2010 senatorial campaign Querubin worked as an internal security consultant for San Miguel Corporation after being granted amnesty. endorsed by 1Sambayan, Senator JV Ejercito, Senator Grace Poe and former President Rodrigo Duterte. Querubin, however, did not succeed in his second attempt, landing in 36th place in the senatorial race.

Electoral history

Personal life Near-death experience In 1989, Querubin was struck by a Sikorsky helicopter gunship and was mistakenly declared dead at the Quirino Labor Hospital morgue until a doctor noticed his Philippine Military Academy ring and a twitch in his finger. After suffering multiple cardiac arrests, he was transferred to the AFP Medical Center, where doctors removed part of his liver, six feet of his small intestine, and repaired his ruptured pancreas.

Relationships During his recovery at V. Luna's Surgical ICU, Querubin met Dr. Loreta Cercenia, who was part of the surgical team that operated on him. When he regained consciousness, he believed he was in heaven, captivated by Dr. Cercenia's angelic appearance. She later became his first wife and gave birth to their two children, Alfred Benjamin and Francesca Eufrosina. Dr. Cercenia died in 1994 at the age of 31. Querubin eventually remarried, and with his second wife, Pong Azcarraga Querubin, they had three more children: Jose Ariel, Ariel, and John Ariel. He also became a stepfather to Pong's children from her previous marriage, Atty. Jose Martin Loon and Marine captain John Michael Loon.