LTC GENE R ORENSE, INFANTRY, GENERAL STAFF COURSE, PHILIPPINE ARMY, is the 11th Commanding Officer of the 11th Civil-Military Operations Battalion, CMO Regiment, PA, which is operationally controlled by Joint Task Force – National Capital Region.
LTC ORENSE is a proud product of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL) wherein he was designated as Corps Commander of DWCL ROTC in 1997. After finishing the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at DWCL he took up the Probationary Officer Training Course Class 05 “BAGWIS” – 1998 in Headquarters, Army Reserve Command in Camp Riego De Dios, Tanza, Cavite, after which he was Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Reserve Force. In the year 2001, he entered the Officer Candidate School and took up Officer Candidate Course Class 22 “SANLAYON” - 2002 in Tanay, Rizal. Upon graduation from his pre-entry military training he spent most of his military career in various CMO-related positions, which immensely contributed to the peace and development efforts of the AFP. In his company grade years, he was assigned at the 1st Infantry “Always First” Battalion (1IB), 202nd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army where he was designated as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Company Commander of Charlie Company, 1IB. His other significant assignments include designations as Company Commander of the Joint AFP-PNP Communications Information Company (JAPCIC) -- a Psychological Operations Company which is the nucleus of the current Civil-Military Battalion of the Philippine Army. He was also designated as the Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 202nd Infantry “Unifier” Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division in the CALABARZON region. On his field grade tour, he was designated as the Operations Officer of 803rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, in Northern Samar.
In 2017, during the height of the Marawi Campaign, LTC ORENSE was designated as Group Commander of the Information Development Group, Civil Relations Service, AFP (IDG, CRSAFP) wherein he provided Information Support Affairs support to AFP troops in the infamous Marawi Seige. In addition, with the guidance of Commander, CRSAFP, LTC ORENSE spearheaded the #SupportOurTroops social media campaign which aims to boost the morale of our fighting heroes by generating support from various stakeholders.
After his Commander’s duty in IDG, CRSAFP, he was designated as Operations Officer of Civil Relations Service, AFP wherein he launched the #AFPyoucanTRUST as a sequel of #SupportOurTroops. He was also the former Deputy Chief, Office of the Army Chief Public Affairs of the Philippine Army, and Branch Chief, Integration Performance Evaluation Branch, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, G7 at Headquarters, Philippine Army.
Furthermore, LTC ORENSE is a regular instructor at the AFP CMO School of the CRSAFP. In 2018, he was a member of the Mobile Training Team of the PNP during the conduct of Special Operations Team White Area Trainings in all PNP regional offices in the country. He was also a guest instructor/resource speaker at the CMO School, CMO Group, Philippine Navy; CMO Group, Philippine Air Force; and Nurse Corps, Philippine Army and he was also invited to share his expertise on Strategic Communication to the Presidential Security Group, Department of Interior and Local Government officials and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in regions 4B, 5 and 12 and Philippine National Police Academy.
LTC ORENSE is a recipient of numerous military medals and recognitions, both in the military and civilian sector such as the Distinguished Service Star, Distinguished Service Medal, Military Achievement Medals, Military Merit Medals, and numerous plaque and certificate of recognition and appreciation from civilian stakeholders. His achievements are attributed to his military and civilian schoolings such as Infantry Basic and Advance Courses, Tactical PsyOps & Special Operations Team White Area Course, Staff Officers Course, Strategic CMO Officers Online Course, and Psychological Operations Officers Correspondence Course. He is also a graduate of the Certificate Course on Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies at Ateneo De Manila University and Certificate Course on Chief Information Officer Leadership Development Program at the National Defense University, Fort McKinley, Washington DC, USA. Moreover, he also undertook the Command and General Staff Course at the Command and General Staff College, AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command where he graduated with honors. Said officer also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Management, Major in Development and Security at the Development Academy of the Philippines.
LTC ORENSE is a native of Legazpi, Albay. He is happily married to Mrs. Gina Bumalay Orense and blessed with two daughters and a son.