MGEN ANDREW DE LARA COSTELO PA 31st Commander of 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army
Major General Andrew D Costelo PA is a seasoned intelligence & operations officer and an accomplished Commander. Currently, he is the Commander of 7th Infantry (KAUGNAY) Division, PA.
MGen Costelo hails from Tabango, Leyte. He finished his Secondary Education at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte and two (2) years college in Cebu City. He was one of the lucky young boys who entered the PMA in 1986 and became a proud member of PMA “BIGKIS LAHI” Class of 1990 where he joined the prestigious Philippine Army. As young born 2nd Lieutenant in the Philippine Army, he was first assigned with the 33rd Infantry Battalion, a unit of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division at Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan Island where he served as Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Company Commander and also served as a Battalion Intelligence Officer.
After serving for seven (7) years with the said unit, he was transferred to the Intelligence and Security Group of the Philippine Army where he served as Field Station Commander in Region 6, 7 & 9. In 2001, he was reassigned to 8ID, PA in Samar where he was designated as Commanding Officer of the 65th Military Intelligence Company and further became the Commanding Officer of the 8th Military Intelligence Battalion of 8ID.
In 2006, he was reassigned with the AFP Counter Intelligence Group and designated as Commanding Officer of ACIU 3 operating in Visayas area and in 2008, he designated as the Group Commander of MIG 5 in Bicol area. Prior to his schooling of CGSC, he also commanded the MIG 17 of ISAFP, a premiere counterintelligence unit of the AFP. As a veteran military officer, he both commanded the 2nd Infantry (Second to None) Battalion and 22nd Infantry (CAFGU) Battalion of the 9ID, PA in Bicol region from 2013 to 2016.
Going up the ladder of his career, he was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff for CMO, G7 of the 9th Infantry (Spearhead) Division and became the Chief of Staff of 9ID, PA from 2016 to 2019.
On 19 August 2019, he was designated as the Commander of the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, PA operating in all the provinces Central Luzon. After his stint as Commander of 703rd Bde, he was designated as the Deputy Commander of the Northern Luzon Command, AFP.He also finished the Master in Management Major in Business Management in 2001 and Master in Public Management Major in Development Security in 2011.
As an accomplished officer, he is a recipient of various awards and commendations. Among of which is the Distinguished Service Stars, Gawad sa Kaunlaran Medal, Bronze Cross Medal, Silver Wing Medal, Military Merit Medal, Military Commendation Medal, and received numerous Letters of Commendation, Certificates of Recognition and Appreciations both from military and civilian sectors.
MGen Costelo was born on 7 November 1967 in Cebu City, happily married with Dr. Evangeline Padilla Costelo of Cabanglasan, Bukidnon and they were blessed with two sons and a daughter namely: Joseph Angelo, Jose Andro and Andrea Marie who are equally talented in sports and academics.
