3-cornered fight seen in selection of next AFP chief of staff

From InterAksyon (Jul 7): 3-cornered fight seen in selection of next AFP chief of staff



AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, seen in this May 2014 file photo to US Pacific Commander Samuel Locklear III, is due to retire soon, and military observers predict a three-way race for his post

The race for the soon-to-be-vacated position of chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is looming as a three-cornered fight between two generals in the Army and a third one in the Air Force.

Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Dimalupig" Class 1991, is set to retire on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 over a week from now.

On Monday, Bautista presided over his last command conference at Camp Aguinaldo but this was not made open to reporters. A copy of his speech, which dwelt at length on internal security, was later released to media outlets.

High on the list of contenders to replace Bautista are Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado (PMA "Sandigan" Class 1982), Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang (PMA Class 1981) and Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Irriberi (PMA "Matikas" Class 1983).

All three are members of the Board of Generals (BOG) led by the Chief of Staff.

Earlier, Delgado said he was more focused on making the most of the last years of his career and at the moment had no expectations of becoming Chief of Staff.

"I'm not really thinking about that at this time. I'm very much contented where I am now. I am very much focused on the directions of the Philippine Air Force, dun lang tayo. And to be fair with the rest of the guys, everybody, all generals are qualified to occupy the chief of staff position...I’m fine here," Delgado told reporters during a recent interview.

His closest rival is Irriberi, former Senior Military Adviser (SMA) and spokesman of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.Some observers said Irriberi could "steal the show" amid rumors that Delgado has already "conceded".

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/90698/3-cornered-fight-seen-in-selection-of-next-afp-chief-of-staff