Marine officer gets reward for defying GMA order not to testify

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 23): Marine officer gets reward for defying GMA order not to testify

The Marine officer, who defied a presidential order and testified before the Senate about the alleged cheating in the 2004 presidential elections, was among the 23 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) promoted by the Commander in Chief Aquino. Col. Alexander Balutan, incumbent commander of the 1st Marine Brigade, formally received his first star and the rank of brigadier general effective Sept. 26....Also promoted was Central Command chief now Navy Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano, making him a strong contender to succeed incumbent Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Alexander Pama who is retiring in December. Alano’s promotion took effect Oct. 5. Other promotees were Maj. Gen. Virgilio Domingo, currently the commandant of the Command and General Staff Course; Rear Admiral Zyril Carlos, chief of the AFP-bids and awards committee; Maj. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, chief of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division; Maj. Gen. Essel Soriano, Army vice commander; Maj. Gen. Samuel Narbuada, Army-inspector general; Maj. Gen. Nicanor Dolojan, Light Armor Division commander. Those who were given their first stars effective Oct. 5 were Colonels Rolando Aquino, commander of the 14th Maintenance Wing; Eusaquito Manalo, chief of 570th Composite Tactical Wing; Virgilio Espineli, assistant division commander of the 8th ID; Rolando Picar, chief of the AFP Finance Center; Gamaliel Cruz, chief of the Army bids and awards committee; Yerson Depayso, assistant division Commander of the 10th ID; Cesar Dionisio Sedillo, commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade and Roberto Domines Jr., commander of 101st Brigade. Also promoted as brigadier generals were John S Bonafos, Camp Commander of the General Headquarters; Eduardo Año, assistant deputy chief of staff for intelligence; Lysander Suerte, commander of 1003rd Brigade; Silvino Alcabasa, commander of the 51st Engineering Brigade; Carlos Solomon, commander of 53rd Engineering Brigade, and Daniel Lucero, chief of the 103rd Brigade and former AFP spokesman.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/5977-marine-officer-gets-reward-for-defying-gma-order-not-to-testify