He has been described as a brave, courteous and very experienced soldier, who rose from the rank of musketeer, which he held at the siege of Haarlem, to the governor of Frisia.

After the arrival in Brussels in 1577 of Juan of Austria, (1547–1578, aged 31), the half brother of King Philip II of Spain, Verdugo was promoted to Governor of Breda, and later of Thionville and of the Citadel of Namur.

This year he won the Battle of Noordhorn over a Dutch States' army led by the English general John Norreys.

But from then on, he lost more and more terrain to Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange and William Louis, Count of Nassau-Dillenburg until by 1595, he had only the city of Groningen and Twente left.

[3] He died on 22 September 1595 and was buried in the same grave as his wife, in the Convent of Sancti Spiritus (Orden de Santa Clara) in Luxembourg.