Top level reshuffle of AFP senior officers

From the Daily Tribune (Mar 19): Top level reshuffle of AFP senior officers

A top level reshuffle of senior officers in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be effected next month with the scheduled retirement of three three-star generals.

Leading those retiring is AFP-Western Command (Wescom) chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1978, who is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on April 1.

The two others are Lt. Generals Jorge Segovia, commanding general of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) and a member of PMA Class of 1980, and PMA superintendent Lt. Gen. Ireneo Espino, of PMA Class of 1979.

Segovia is retiring April 13 while Espino is turning 56 on April 16.

The AFP’s Board of Generals is expected to submit its recommendations to President Aquino, through Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Military insiders said that Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, a member of the ruling PMA Class of 1981, is being groomed to succeed Sabban, his fellow Marine officer.

“General Guerrero is ripe to be promoted as three-star general. Having served as Marine commandant for more than two years, he is qualified to any three-star position like commanding general of the Western Command,” a Marine officer said.

On the other hand, Brig. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo, of PMA Class of 1983, is among the top contenders for the Marine top post.

“Tanalgo is being groomed to replace General Guerrero. Being one of the senior officers in the corps, he is very much qualified,” the source said.

There have been no names coming out as probable replacements of Segovia and Espino.  

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/item/11876-top-level-reshuffle-of-afp-senior-officers.html