BRIGADIER GENERAL VICTOR S IBRADO, AFP
Commander, Special Forces Regiment (Airborne)
Philippine Army, Armed Forces of the Philippines
BRIGADIER GENERAL BONG IBRADO, AFP presently commands the
Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), based at Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva
Ecija. The Special Forces (SFRA) is under the Philippine Army’s Special
Operations Command. It is one of the Army’s most elite units, equipped with
highly sophisticated weaponry and equipment and manned by highly-trained
officers and enlisted personnel.
A well-schooled officer, he started his career as a Second Lieutenant in
the Army during the height of secessionism in Southern Philippines upon
graduating from the Philippine Military Academy in 1976. He finished his Infantry
Officer Advanced Course at the US Army Infantry School in Fort Benning
Georgia in 1989, as a consistent Commandant’s Lister. In 1998, he graduated
with honors from the Philippine Army Command and General Staff College. He
likewise took-up specialization courses in the course of his active service, namely
Special Forces Operations, Airborne and Jumpmaster Courses, Intelligence
Course, and the Intermediate Operation Course at the Land Warfare Center in
Queensland, Australia.
His excellence in his military trainings were exhibited during the twentyeight years of active service in which he was given various positions in combat
and garrison units of the Army. He spent his early years in combat duties as a
platoon leader in Northern Philippines; as a Company Commander, Intelligence
and Operation officer of the Home Defense Force Group (Airborne), fore runner
of the Special Forces, in Southern Philippines; and, as the Intelligence Officer of
the Special Warfare Brigade, fore runner of the Special Operations Command. In
1994, he assumed command of the 11th Infantry Battalion addressing communist
threat in Central Philippines. Recognized for his exceptional skills in intelligence
operations, he was designated as the Commander of the Army’ Intelligence and
Security Group in 1999 and then as the Chief of the Army Headquarters’
Intelligence Division in 2000. He assumed Command of the 303 rd Infantry
Brigade that operated within the provinces of Central Philippines in 2002. It did
not take long before he was entrusted with the sensitive command of the elite
Special Forces Regiment where he earned his star rank.
His services to the country earned him not only his star rank, but also
numerous awards and decorations. Most importantly, he was awarded four
Distinguished Service Stars for commendable performance while occupying key
positions in the Army; three Outstanding Achievement Medals; and, Bronze
Cross Medals for his intelligence accomplishments. These were above other
awards and commendations he received while serving the Armed Forces, the
Filipino people and the country.
He was married to Dolores and they are blessed with three children,
namely, Victoria, Victoria Grace and Milo Victor.