The saying silent water runs deep maybe true about Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita’s role in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s official family. He is the least “talkative" before media but is perceived as the most influential in the President’s close circle of advisers. Historically, the executive secretary in Philippine politics has been considered “the little president." No one exactly knows, except the President, how much powers has been granted to the executive secretary. Former executive secretary Renato de Villa’s statement offers a clue. He was once quoted saying nominees to cabinet positions passed through him, bypassing the recommendatory powers of a screening committee. Writer Noralyn Mustafa wrote that Ermita is the strategist that Mrs. Arroyo needs most.
Military background Ermita was a colonel when martial law was proclaimed in 1972. During that time he had a reputation of being a “psy-war expert." Military generals began marching into powerful posts in the civilian government during the Marcos years. Ermita's positions, however, remained within the purview of the military establishment. From 1976 to ’85, he was senior Military Assistant in the Office of the Undersecretary of National Defense; Commanding General, Civil Relations Service of the AFP from 1985-1986; Deputy Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1986 to 1988; Vice-Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1988; Undersecretary, Department of National Defense from 1988 to1992; and Acting Secretary of National Defense in 2001. After democracy was won in 1986, the pattern of appointing military men to top civilian posts continued under the Aquino and Ramos governments, especially during the latter's where the so-called “militarization of the civilian government" happened. Ermita was the Vice-Chief of Staff in 1988 and Undersecretary of National Defense during the last major coup attempt in against the Aquino administration from 1988 to 1992. Meanwhile, the short-lived presidency of Joseph Estrada was characterized by constant attempt to court the loyalty of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. President Arroyo now has not minded criticisms about the unprecedented appointment of military men to her government. But she said that all her appointments have been based on the qualifications and ability of the appointee to perform tasks that will help achieve the administration’s goals. From 1974 to the present, Ermita has retained a silent presence in different administrations, doing various tasks as military man, lawmaker, peace negotiator, presidential adviser on the peace process and of late, being the “little president".
Civilian jobs It was during the Ramos administration when Ermita left the military and ran for an elected civilian post. He became a three-term Congressman (9th, 10th, and 11th congress) during which he held various congressional committee posts. Ermita was chairman of the Special Committee on the Peace Process and during the integration of the 10th Congress (1995-1998), he was Senior Vice-Chairman. He was also a member of various committees in the house from 1992 to 2001. Ermita emerged as government's point man in negotiations with rebel groups and in the area of conflict resolution. He was member of the National Unification Commission from 1993-1994; Vice-Chairman of the Government Peace Panel Negotiations with the Moro National Liberation Front from 1992-1996; Chairman of the Government Peace Negotiating Panel in Talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Appointed on June 11, 2003); Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (appointed on January 25, 2001) and on January October 3, 2004, he was appointed Secretary of National Defense. He also headed the Special Information group during the EDSA I "People Power" Revolution in February 1986. He handled the program for the reconciliation, reintegration and rehabilitation of rebel returnees in the Department of National Defense in the periods 1976-1984 and 1988-1992. Ermita is a pioneer in the organization and management of the Civil-Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 1970-1985, eventually serving as the CRS’ Commanding General in 1985-1986, before and during the EDSA I People Power Revolution. The CRS remains a major AFP unit, which establishes and maintains links with civilian communities and conducts psychological operations activities. Executive Secretary Ermita was born on July 13, 1935 in Balayan, Batangas. He is married to Elvira Ramos from Dipolog City with whom he has four children, namely: Edwin (41, married), Ernestina (39, Married), Elenita (33, Married) and Elisa (31, married). He has seven (7) grandchildren.
Luis Gorgonio. GMANews.TV 
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