Jaime de los Santos (born April 1946 in Nueva Ecija, Philippines) is a retired Filipino military general who led the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and the first Filipino officer to lead an international peacekeeping force on foreign soil. He also served as chief of staff and the commanding general of the Philippine Army.

Jaime de los Santos
Commanding General Philippine Army
In office
2001–2002
Preceded byLGen. Diomedio Villanueva
Succeeded byLGen. Dionisio Santiago
Deputy Chief of Staff Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
October 2000 – July 2001
Preceded byRear Admiral Napoleon Baylon
Succeeded byMajor General Narciso Abaya
Commander UNTAET
In office
February 2000 – July 2000
Preceded byPeter Cosgrove INTERFET
Succeeded byLieutenant General Boonsrang Niumpradit
AFP Visayas Command
In office
1999–2000
Preceded byMajor General Julius Javier
Succeeded byRear Admiral Napoleon Baylon
Superintendent Philippine Military Academy
In office
1998–1999
Preceded byCommodore Juan De Leon
Succeeded byMaj. Gen. Manuel Carranza
Personal details
Born (1946-04-02) 2 April 1946 (age 78)
Nueva Ecija, Commonwealth of the Philippines
EducationBachelor of Science Degree (1969)
Alma materPhilippine Military Academy (1969)
Military service
Allegiance Philippines
Branch/service Philippine Army
Years of service1969–2002
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands
Battles/warsCommunist rebellion in the Philippines
Moro conflict

De los Santos joined the Philippine Army in 1969 after graduating from the Philippine Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Military Engineering. De los Santos later on served as a brigade commander, chief of staff and commanding general of an infantry division and superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy.

In December 1999, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed de los Santos as the Force Commander of the UNTAET. The International Force East Timor (INTERFET) commanded by Australian Major General Peter Cosgrove transitioned to the UNTAET Peacekeeping Force on 23 February 2000.[1][2] Thus, Santos became the first Filipino officer to lead an international peacekeeping force.

In 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed de los Santos as the chief of staff and the commanding general of the Philippine Army of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He retired from military service in April 2002.

Awards in military service

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References

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  1. ^ Smith, Michael Geoffrey; Moreen Dee (2003). Peacekeeping in East Timor: the path to independence. Lynne Rienner Publishers. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-58826-142-7.
  2. ^ "Secretary-General appoints Force Commander, Deputy Force Commander for UN Transitional Administration in East Timor" (Press release). United Nations. 20 December 2019. SG/A/718.

See also

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Preceded by Commanding General of the Philippine Army
17 March 2001 – 2 April 2002
Succeeded by