Iriberri, PMA Class '83 member, is new Army chief

From InterAksyon (Feb 6): Iriberri, PMA Class '83 member, is new Army chief

President Benigno Aquino III has chosen a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Matikas” Class of 1983 to replace Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes who retires tomorrow from the service, highly placed sources in Camp Aguinaldo said.

Major General Hernando Iriberri, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, is set to accept the Army position after the retirement ceremony of Coballes.

Aquino himself will witness the turnover of command.

The commander of the 703rd Infantry Brigade and Iriberri’s classmate, Brigadier General Henry Sabarre, is reportedly the incoming commander of 7ID.

Among those bested by Iriberri for the Army position are: Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) chief Lt. gGn. Gregorio Pio Catapang (PMA “Dimalupig” Class of 1981), Central Command (Centcom) chief Maj. Gen. John Bonafos (PMA “Sandigan” Class of 1982) and 4th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, also Iriberri’s classmate.

Iriberri served as Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin’s Senior Military Adviser (SMA) and spokesman at the Department of National Defense (DND). Gazmin is himself a former Army chief.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/80252/iriberri-pma-class-83-member-is-new-army-chief