FRANCISCO ASHLEY ACEDILLO
When then Air Force 1st Lieutenant Francisco Ashley Acedillo first appeared on national television when he joined fellow Magdalo soldiers in Oakwood six years ago, he told friends that he was “siding with the truth.”
At a very young age of 26, the Cebuano soldier then had a very promising career in the military, particularly in the Air Force. But his family and friends knew at that moment that he had done the right thing.
He was detained for over five years, but was never cowed to submission by what is perceived to be one of the most corrupt administrations in the nation’s history.
Acedillo may be one of the youngest members of Magdalo, but his love for the country and the principles he stands for is just as fervent as its senior leaders.
Francisco Ashley Acedillo was born on Jan. 27, 1977. He is the son of retired Army Colonel Francisco G. Acedillo and Leonita L. Acedillo, an elementary public school teacher.
“Ace” as he is fondly called, took his primary education at the Philippine Christian Gospel School, where he graduated #3 and Best in Filipino and Social Studies. He finished his secondary education at the UP High School in Cebu, where he was virtually a campus leader in every respect, having been awarded the school’s Award for Best in Inter and Intra School Academic Competitions and the Ayala Award for Athletics.
Not only was Ace active in both the school’s student council and school paper, he was also a member of the varsity team for soccer, basketball and tennis. In fact, he was the captain of the team that captured the school’s first and only inter-school soccer championship in 1991.
Ace entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1995 and graduated in 1999, where he served as Class President from 1996 until graduation.
In 1997, he was designated the Cadet-in-Charge (CIC or Club President) of the Discussion and Debate Society and The PMA Hour (an amateur FM radio program in Baguio City) from 1998 to 1999.
He was also a member of the Lawn Tennis and Football varsity teams while he was in the PMA.
While a Cadet, Ace was also an Associate Editor for The Corps Magazine, the official cadet publication, and The Academy Scribe, the official historical chronicle of PMA.
In 1998, he led the 2nd PMA Cadet Mass Battalion that was adjudged the Best AFP Marching Unit (Cadet Category) as Battalion Commander in that year’s AFP Anniversary Parade and Review.
During Ace’s senior year at PMA, he was designated as the Brigade Executive Officer (third overall-in-command) of the Cadet Corps and concurrently the Brigade Academic Officer.
After graduating from the military academy, 2Lt Acedillo enrolled at the Philippine Air Force Flying School in Lipa City, Batangas where he earned his wings as a Military Pilot.
As a young member of the Air Force, he earned a number of medals and commendations because of his display of gallantry in the field.
In 2002 and 2003, he actively participated in actual law enforcement, military and civic operations against dissidents comprising the Mindanao-Sulu islands and in Northern Luzon as a tactical helicopter pilot.
In the field of combat, 2Lt Acedillo participated in military operations in North Luzon .
He was awarded the Gold Cross Medal – the third highest award for combat – for gallantry in action while serving as UH-1H Helicopter Pilot during close air support operations and air evacuation in Baggao, Cagayan Valley on November 2002.
2Lt Ace Acedillo was awarded the Distinguished Aviation Cross – the fourth highest combat award – for distinguished heroism and extraordinary achievement in pursuit operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Zamboanga del Sur and the New People’s Army in Davao (where he earned a Bronze Cross Medal) .
He was also given the Gawad sa Kaunlaran – the fourth highest non-combat decoration – and the Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal, for his meritorious and invaluable achievement as a tactical helicopter pilot in the pursuit of socio-economic and non-combat activities in the islands of Mindanao and Sulu.
2Lt Acedillo was also awarded two Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Operations Medals for participation in various disaster relief and rehabilitation operations in South Cotabato and Central and Southern Mindanao for a period of at least 6 months.
For having participated in internal security operations in the area of responsibility of the Southern Command, he was awarded the Combat Commander’s Kagitingan Badge
He also earned a second Bronze Cross Medal for acts of heroism involving risk of life as UH-1H Helicopter Pilot during a marijuana eradication operation under Oplan Caterpillar II in the tri-boundaries of La Union, Benguet, and Ilocos Sur.
Ace earned his third Bronze Cross Medal for his participation in operations against the NPA in the tri-boundaries of Bulacan, Rizal, and Quezon.
Before his combat experience, Ace also served as the chief of the Information and Publication Branch of the PAF Public Information Office. He was also editor-in-chief of the PAF Newsletter.
In 2003, 1Lt Francisco Ashley Acedillo joined the rest of the Magdalo soldiers to air their grievances against the Arroyo administration which, up to now, had remained unaddressed.
He was detained for five years and was subsequently discharged from the military service for standing up against an inept and corrupt government. The passion to realize what he and Magdalo soldiers fought for in 2003 still remains the same. And the fight now takes a new form, a new arena.
Presently, Ace serves as the national spokesperson for the Magdalo Para Sa Pagbabago Movement and the Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim for Senator Movement. But he has political plans of his own.
He is eyeing a congressional seat in the first district of Cebu City, which he fondly calls his home. Acedillo considers the fight an uphill one, but with the zeal he has displayed in furtherance of his love of country, it is not impossible.