COL CHARLEMAGNE FONTANILLA BATAYOLA, JR. Masters in National Security Administration (MNSA) ARM, Philippine Army, is the current Chief of Staff of the Armor Division, Philippine Army. Prior to his present designation, he was the former Deputy Brigade Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry (Magbalantay) Brigade and in a concurrent capacity was also the Commander of Task Force Iligan in Lanao Del Norte. He was also the former Chair GPH Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) in the whole Lanao (Del Norte and Del Sur) region, the existing peace mechanism which have been instrumental in sustaining the gains of the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Through the CCCH which are among the main peace or ceasefire mechanisms, potential situations of conflict between government troops and MILF forces are immediately resolved. Col Batayola Jr was the former Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G3) of the then Mechanized Infantry Division, PA before taking up the Masters in National Security Administration (MNSA) Regular Course 54, wherein he graduated with an Academic Excellence Achievement award receiving the Silver medal.
He was born on 19 May 1969 at Quezon City and is the oldest of three sons of Charlemagne Y Batayola and Emy Alma F Fontanilla. He grew up in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City, finished elementary at Fort Bonifacio Elementary School and his secondary education at the Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati. He entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and graduated with the illustrious PMA “Tanglaw-Diwa” Class of 1992.
After graduating from the academy, he was immediately deployed in the mountainous region of Cordillera joining the 24th “Wildcat” Infantry Battalion. He then rose up the ladder of field command as a platoon leader and company commander. From there on, he served in various capacities, managing people and resources from both the Infantry and Armor units and in all levels of Command, from the tactical up to strategic. During his stint as battalion commander of the 1st Cavalry (Tagapanguna) Squadron of the Mechanized Infantry Division, the unit he commanded was adjudged twice for two consecutive years by the Philippine Army as the “best battalion” of the Armor Division.
He was deployed twice in a United Nations (UN) sanctioned operations such as in East Timor in 1999 as the deputy Civil Military Operations Officer and simultaneously as spokesperson of the contingent and as the first ever Filipino to be designated as Political and Military Information Officer and later as Chief, Operations Officer of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in 2009 from where he obtained his exposure in working with international civilian staffs and militaries from other nations. For his stint as a military observer and staff, he was awarded twice with the UNMOGIP medal and ribbon. He also served as the Civil Affairs Chief of the Philippine Humanitarian Support Mission to East Timor (PHILHSMET) during the peacemaking phase of the Australian led International Forces to East Timor (INTERFET). During his stint with INTERFET, he was one of the few military personnel who was awarded by the Australian Government with the much coveted INTERFET medal in addition to being a recipient of the East Timor Campaign medal.
In between these field and garrison assignments, he managed to finish both a Diploma and a Master in Science degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City in 1998 wherein he was a consistent University Scholar awardee up to his graduation. This is in addition to the numerous military schoolings he had completed with honors and distinction such as the Armor Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Psychological Operations Course, Basic Airborne Course, VIP Security Operations Training, UN Peacekeeping Staff Officer Course and the Command and General Staff Course among others. He also pursued and graduated with a Master in Public Management, Major in Development and Security degree in 2013 from the Development Academy of the Philippines.
COL BATAYOLA JR is a recipient of numerous military medals such as the Distinguished Service Star, Meritorious Achievement Medal, Gawad sa Kapayapaan, Gawad sa Kaunlaran, Chief of Staff AFP Commendation Medal and Ribbon, Bronze Cross Medals, Silver Wing Medals, Military Merit Medals for both combat and administration, Military Commendation Medals, Marksmanship Badges for both pistol and rifle (expert category), Personnel Readiness Badge (Gold category), Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal, and various campaign medals and ribbons. He also received various commendations, plaques and honors from the civilian stakeholders. The DSWD Region 10 bestowed him twice with the “Salamat Po” award and a Service Award from the province of Zamboanga Del Sur. The Rotary Club of Iligan recognized him as the “Most Active Rotarian for RY 2021-2022” and conferred on him the “Distinguished Leadership Award” in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and dedication. The Rotary International District 3870 bestowed on him the “Service Award” for having faithfully served as Club President for the Rotary Year 2022 - 2023. Col. Batayola Jr is happily married to the former Miss Lirio G. Tabaquero of Tarlac City and is blessed with four children namely Charleen Mae, Charlemagne III Charlemagne IV and Princess Riomagne.
