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.
He was a member of the leftist student group Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan until he attended the Philippine Military Academy, graduating in 1979. He then opted to become an officer in the Philippine Marine Corps.
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 1987 coup attempt
On August 28, 1987, Reform the Armed Forces Movement rebels led by Gregorio Honasan attempted to oust President Corazon Aquino. They attacked Malacañang Palace, Camp Aguinaldo and Villamor Air Base. Querubin, along with Red Kapunan and Juancho Sabban, attempted to bring Philippine Military Academy cadets from Baguio to Manila to provide support for Honasan.
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. The military exercise eventually failed and Querubin and his comrades were detained. They were granted amnesty during the administration of Fidel Ramos, who succeeded Corazon Aquino as president.
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. After the kidnapping in Lantawan, the Abu Sayyaf group, pursued by Philippine marines from the 2nd Battalion, managed to escape to Sumisip. Additional military forces were dispatched to break up the pursuit. On June 12, Philippine Independence Day, the remaining hostages, except for Fr. Nacorda, were released. That evening, a journalist named Cesar Soriano, working for ABS-CBN and CNN, approached Querubin and his men, seeking to be taken to Zamboanga City. Querubin, believing Soriano had vital information about Sali, threatened to throw his camera into the sea if he did not divulge the information. According to Soriano, he had been blindfolded when taken to Sali's location and witnessed the release of the captives, but he managed to peek through the blindfold and note landmarks that proved useful to Querubin.
Two days later, Querubin and his men intercepted a radio call for Sali, using his codename "Sniper," revealing that Sali's movements had been compromised, forcing them to deviate from their plan. At daybreak, a premature engagement broke out between the forward marine forces and MNLF separatists. After numerous encounters and similar engagements, Barahama Sali's forces were neutralized, eventually leading to the release of Fr. Nacorda in Basilan. Querubin, who had previously been granted amnesty, re-entered military service and was credited with the neutralization of Barahama Sali in 1994, which directly led to the eventual release from captivity of the Catholic priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda, who had been kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan.
2000 Philippines-MILF War ("Battle of Kauswagan")
In 2000, Lt. Col. Querubin was conferred the Armed Forces of the Philippines' highest honor, the Medal of Valor for leading a military operation against 300 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters in Lanao del Norte. 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.
2002 operation against ASG's Abu Sabaya
ASG leader Abu Sabaya held captives — missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham along with 18 other people — whom were kidnapped in May 2001. On June 21, 2002, a team led by Querubin, aided by US forces and equipment, tracked Sabaya who was killed in a firefight at sea.
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.
During a breakfast meeting, Querubin's wife's cousin, Tonggo Climaco, arrived accompanied by Alvin Siglos. Siglos sought Querubin's advice, informing him that he had switched sides and was now working with Querubin's old friend and comrade-in-arms, Colonel Juancho Sabban, in the rescue effort for the Burnham couple and nurse Deborah Yap.
Siglos expressed more concern over the military agents pursuing him than over Sabaya, whom he had forsaken. However, Querubin understood that Siglos' alliance with Sabban was not entirely comforting, as jealousy over credit, especially in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf, ran deep within the military. Though unsure how he could assist, Querubin and his wife's cousin offered to drive Siglos home, hoping to provide him some reassurance.
During the drive, Querubin received a call from Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu, the South Command Military Chief, summoning him to the Edwin Andrews Air Base where Cimatu was preparing to fly to Basilan for the Burnham operation.
In their brief meeting, two key issues were discussed. First, Cimatu wanted a satellite phone that had been fitted with a tracking device and smuggled into Sabaya's possession to be returned, as he was concerned it could be used for propaganda purposes, presenting more danger than opportunity. The second point concerned Querubin's sudden transfer from the First Marine Brigade in Lanao del Sur to the Second Marine Brigade in Basilan, the center of the operation. When Querubin arrived in Basilan, he became aware of the significant American involvement in the operation.
The Americans had managed to place the satellite phone in Sabaya's hands, likely hoping he would use it to communicate and make a deal. At the time, American troops were conducting a joint civil-military exercise called Balikatan with their Filipino counterparts in Basilan and Zamboanga City, the heart of Abu Sayyaf territory. They were utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, including the satellite phone given to Sabaya.