Eduardo Ermita

Eduardo Ramos Ermita was born on July 13, 1935.^[2] In his childhood, Ermita lived in the towns of Balayan and Nasugbu, Batangas and survived the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II^[3]

Ermita was a graduate of Philippine Military Academy class of 1957, and one of his batch mates was former AFP Chief of Staff Rene de Villa.^[4]

Ermita narrated in his 2017 memoir about his combat experience in Mindanao as well as being part of the Philippine Civic Action Group in the Vietnam War.^[3]

Ermita was the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the series of coup attempts from 1986 to 1988, Undersecretary of National Defense during the last major coup attempt in December 1989, head of the Special Information group during the EDSA People Power Revolution in February 1986, and president of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association from 1986 to 1988.

He was part of the peace negotiations with the Moro National Liberation Front from 1992 to 1996.^[5]

Ermita was elected congressman in the 1st District of Batangas in 1992, defeating incumbent Conrado Apacible, a member of one of the most influential political families. He would serve for three terms until 2001.

He resigned from Congress on January 25, 2001, to become the acting Secretary of National Defense under the new administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, following the Second EDSA Revolution, until March 19, 2001. He was later appointed on October 3, 2003, as a full-time Secretary of National Defense. He was the provincial chairman of Lakas–CMD in Batangas and regional chairman of Lakas in Calabarzon since 1992.

Former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, former agrarian reform secretary Nasser Pangandaman, and entrepreneur Janet Lim-Napoles were charged for plunder by the National Bureau of Investigation before the Ombudsman in 2013 for allegedly diverting ₱900 million in the Malampaya fund scam.^[6]

Ermita was married to Elvira Ramos from Dipolog, with whom he had four children: Edwin Ermita (2007 and 2010 Batangas vice gubernatorial candidate), Ernestina Ermita, Eileen Ermita-Buhain (who succeeded him as Batangas 1st district representative), and Lisa Ermita-Abad (incumbent mayor of Balayan since 2025).^[7][8][9]

Ermita died in his residence in Batangas on October 18, 2025, at the age of 90.^[3] His wake was held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on October 19–20 and at the Heritage Memorial Park on October 21–22, both in Taguig. His remains were interred at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on October 23.^[2][10]