Despite ‘right connect,’ a good choice for AFP command post

From Malaya (Apr 2): Despite ‘right connect,’ a good choice for AFP command post

MAJ. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, is being groomed to become the new commander of the Davao-City based AFP Eastern Mindanao Command, according to military sources.

The current Eastmincom head, Lt. Gen. Jorge Segovia, is due to reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on April 13.

Cruz is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1980, which includes presidential sisters Kris, Ballsy, Pinky and Viel as honorary members.

“He (Cruz) is a shooting enthusiast like President Aquino,” one of the sources said.

The source also said 10th ID commander Maj. Gen. Ariel Bernardo, also of PMA Class 1980, is also being mentioned as a possible successor of Segovia “but his name is not as loud as that of General Cruz.”

Qualifications-wise, the official said Cruz has no derogatory record. Cruz is a well-rounded officer who has spent much time in intelligence and operations field. Cruz once served as Army assistant chief of staff for intelligence.

A second source said President Aquino addresses Cruz by the first name. “He (President Aquino) knows General Cruz well. He knows him as a one of the top shooters, top gun in the Armed Forces,” he said.

The official said Aquino has been seeing Cruz in shooting games like the Game of the Generals, a periodic shooting competition among military and police generals.

“When there are competitions, he (President Aquino) approaches and exchange jokes (with Cruz)...He has high regards for General Cruz. In one instance during a Game of the Generals, the President joked that since General Cruz was there, what is left for grabs is the second place,” he said.
“He is the best shooter among the generals in the Armed Forces, no one beats him (in shooting competitions),” he said of Cruz.

http://malaya.com.ph/index.php/news/nation/27784-despite-right-connect-a-good-choice-for-afp-command-post