Rafael Jalandoni

Major General
Rafael Jalandoni
5th Mayor of Iloilo City
In office
1950–1952
Preceded byVicente Ybiernas
Succeeded byJuan Borja
3rd Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
December 21, 1947 – December 20, 1948
PresidentManuel Roxas
Preceded byBasilio Valdes
Succeeded byMariano Castañeda
Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army
In office
December 21, 1945 – December 1, 1946
PresidentSergio Osmeña
Manuel Roxas
Preceded byBasilio Valdes
Succeeded byMariano Castañeda
Personal details
BornOctober 24, 1894
Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Diedunknown
Alma materPhilippine Constabulary Academy
Military service
AllegiancePhilippine Commonwealth
Branch/servicePhilippine Constabulary
Philippine Army
Years of service
1922-1948
RankMajor General
Commands4th PC Regiment
PC Central Luzon District
Military Aide to the President of the Philippine Commonwealth
Battles/wars

Rafael Ledesma Jalandoni (October 24, 1894 – ?) was a Philippine Constabulary officer who served as the 3rd Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was appointed by President Manuel Roxas[1] in 1946 after gaining independence from United States. He retired in 1948.

Early life

Jalandoni was born in Pontevedra, Negros Occidental to Manuel Jalandoni and Paula Ledesma. He commanded the 3rd PC Regiment in Mindanao and later served as an aide of President Manuel L. Quezon. He was in command of the PC Department of Central Luzon at the start of the Pacific War in 1941.

World War II

He served during World War II fighting Japanese forces in Southern Luzon and Bataan. He commanded the 3th Infantry (PC) Regiment of the 2nd Regular Division activated in Bataan under the command of MGen. Guillermo Francisco, the concurrent chief of the Philippine Constabulary. He was a POW when the Luzon Force surrendered on April 9, 1942. He endured the Bataan Death March and was imprisoned at Capas Internment Camp. He was released in August of that year along with all Filipino soldiers.

Post-war and later career

After the war, on December 18, 1945, Jalandoni, then Army Deputy Chief of Staff, was promoted by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña from vice brigadier-general to brigadier-general, and was appointed as Chief of Staff, replacing Basilio Valdes;[2] effective on December 21.[3] By 1946, Jalandoni became a major general.[4][5]

During his tenure, in 1947, the military was reorganized;[6] mainly in line with the "Government Reorganization Plan" issued by President Manuel Roxas in October.[7] Later that month, Jalandoni issued General Orders No. 228, renaming the designation Army of the Philippines to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);[7][5] effectively placing him as its Chief of Staff.[6][8] Jalandoni was replaced by Mariano Castañeda on December 16, 1948.[3]

On April 28, 1949, Jalandoni accompanied former first Lady Aurora Quezon, widow of former President Manuel L. Quezon on her way to the town of Baler, together with her daughter Maria Aurora (Baby) Quezon, son-in-law Felipe Buencamino III, and grandson to unveil a marker in memory of her late husband. In Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, their vehicle was ambushed by Hukbalahap rebels, leaving Jalandoni as the only survivor[9][10] after he was knocked unconscious when he was hit in the head by a pistol butt.[11]

In early 1950, Jalandoni was appointed mayor of Iloilo City; serving until 1952.[12][13][14][15]

References

  1. ↑ Farolan, Ramon (January 14, 2013). "The trouble with 'revolving doors'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ↑ Executive Order No. 80 (December 18, 1945), Designation of the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Philippine Army, retrieved March 29, 2026
  3. 1 2 A. V. H. Hartendorp (1958). History of Industry and Trade of the Philippines. Manila: American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. pp. 347, 353. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ The Story of the Philippine Constabulary. Los Angeles: Globe Printing Company; Philippine Constabulary Officers Association. 1949. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Google Books.
  5. 1 2 Giagonia, Regino (1997). The Philippine Navy, 1898-1996. Philippines: Philippine Navy. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Google Books.
  6. 1 2 Osborne, William (April 1948). "The Armed Forces of the Philippines". Army Information Digest. 3 (4). Carlisle Barracks: United States Department of Army: 5–11. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Google Books.
  7. 1 2 Military History Branch (n.d.). Twenty Years of the AFP (PDF). pp. 8–30. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via University of the Philippines Diliman.
  8. ↑ McCoy, Alfred (2009). Policing America's Empire. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 92. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Filipino Bandits Kill Family Of Ex-President: Trove". Australian Associated Press. April 29, 1949. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Quezon and Guingona". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  11. ↑ "MRS. QUEZON SLAIN WITH 12 OF PARTY IN FILIPINO AMBUSH; First President's Widow, Two of Kin, Others Are Shot, Apparently by 'Huks' ARMY HUNTS ATTACKERS Quirino, Who Had Shifted Plan to Be With Motorcade Victims, Discounts Reports of Plot KILLED IN PHILIPPINE MOUNTAINS MRS. QUEZON SLAIN IN FILIPINO AMBUSH". The New York Times. April 29, 1949. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  12. ↑ Special Report (Issues 9–11). Illinois: Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University. 1974. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Google Books.
  13. ↑ Messages of the President Elpidio Quirino (1948–1953) — Book 6, Volume 2: Appointments and Designations. Manila: Government of the Philippines. n.d. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ↑ The Philippine Yearbook (1951–1952). Manila: Philippine Herald & DHHM. p. 115. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Google Books.
  15. ↑ McCoy, Alfred (2000). Lives at the Margin. Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press. p. 321. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Google Books.
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