Reception Hall, Malacañang
22 December 2015

President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Presidential awards to key personalities who ensured the successful hosting of the Philippines’ 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Recipient of the Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu) were Executive Secretary Pacquito N. Ochoa, Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento.

The Gawad Mabini with the rank of Commander (Dakilang Kasugo) were conferred to Private Sector Advisory Council (APSAC) Chairperson Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Chair Doris Magsaysay-Ho and APEC CEO Summit Chair Tony Tan Caktiong.

Receiving the Presidential Medal of Merit was APEC CEO Summit Chief Operating Officer Guillermo Luz.

President Aquino also conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Commander to AFP Chief of Staff Gen Hernando DCA Iriberri and PNP Chief Police Dir Gen Ricardo Marquez, who served as the Commander of the National Joint Task Force APEC. Under PNP Chief Marquez’s leadership, BGen Apolinario Alobba, who acted as Deputy Commander of the National Joint Task Force APEC, was also conferred the award of Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Officer.

The yearlong event with theme: “Building inclusive economies, building a better world,” sums up a total of 44 meetings in nine different provinces across the country leading to the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) which had been attended by 20 economic leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. This year marks the second hosting of the Philippine as APEC member economy with its first in 1996.

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