Ernesto Carolina

Undersecretary Ernesto G. Carolina is a retired Filipino military leader who serves in a civilian role. He is the author of the PDR Philippine Defense Reform Program at the Department of National Defense, and was also designated as the undersecretary in charge of implementing it. He also assisted the Secretary of National Defense in performing duties and exercising supervision and control over the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). Prior to his designation as Undersecretary for PDR, he was appointed Presidential Assistant and designated Chairman of the Joint Defense Assessment Planning and Implementation Group (JDA-PAIG). He is the administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and is responsible for reforms saving millions of dollars for the Philippine Government.

Family background
Undersecretary Carolina is the eldest of nine siblings: three brothers, including himself and six sisters. He grew up under extremely impoverished conditions in one of central Manila's urban poor communities. All nine of them earned academic degrees. His mother, his only living parent, resides in the United States with his sister.

Carolina is married to Aurora B. Dominguez and has four children with her. He has a son who is a commissioned officer in the Philippine Army.

Academic background
A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1970, Undersecretary Carolina obtained a Masters Degree in Business Economics from the University of Asia & the Pacific and completed the academic requirements for a masters degree in Mathematics from the University of the Philippines. He also attended numerous training programs, seminars and conferences, both local and international.

Military career
In 2004, Carolina retired from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the rank of Lieutenant General. He held many prestigious posts including Commander of two Unified Commands, the Southern Luzon (SOLCOM), the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP, among others. He holds the distinct honor of being the only Philippine Army officer to lead his infantry battalion to three consecutive years of being named as the Philippine Army's best battalion, and later also leading his infanrty brigade to becoming named best brigade for 3 consecutive years. Carolina was the chief of the AFP SOUTHCOM during the 2002 standoff with the Abu Sayyaf Group that finally led to the rescue of U.S. missionary Gracia Burnham but led to the death of her husband Martin Burnham and Filipina nurse Ediborah Yap during the rescue.