Army chief cites new Agila Brigade commander as “perfect fit”

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 1): Army chief cites new Agila Brigade commander as “perfect fit”

The footsteps  of former Philippine Army (PA) 10th Infantry “Agila” Division commanding general is hard to follow, but Philippine Army chief, Maj. Gen. Hernando Iriberri believes that the new Agila Division commander is equally capable.

In  his message during the  recently held turning over ceremony at Camp Manuel Yan in Mawab, Compostela Valley,  PA commanding general Maj. Gen Iriberri described new 10ID commander, Maj. Gen. Eduardo M. Ano as “experienced”  and  “perfect fit” replacement for retired Major Gen. Ariel Bernardo.

He revealed Ano as a “Scout Ranger,  intelligence officer and counter-terrorism specialist” who started his field assignments with the 36th IB, 4ID in Mindanao after graduating from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Ano had various assignments in the intelligence units before he became commander of several fighting units and “before he became Chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP)”.

“His capabilities as an officer are augmented by his leadership expertise, a result of training and experience, a testament to the formidable qualities that make Major General Eduardo Manahan Ano a perfect fit as commander of the 10ID,” Iriberri said.

Iriberri further revealed he and Ano were commanders of  the PMA “Matikas” Class of 1983 and that he had known Ano to have shown “intellectual prowess” even during  their Academy years , leading   the latter to graduate with honors.

“From then on, he topped all his basic, advanced and Command and General Staff courses,”  Iriberri added.

 Such excellent academic  performance paved way for Ano to specialize on Intelligence, eventually leading him to land as the group commander of ISAFP and assistant chief of staff for Intelligence of the Philippine Army.

Though Iriberri had a hard time letting go of Ano who has become “so valuable in the intelligence community,”  Iriberri deemed it important for a commander like Ano “to sustain the peace” in the area of responsibility of the 10th ID which covers the entire Davao Region and the SOCSKSARGEN--- considered as “economically and strategically important regions of the country”.

Iriberri banked on the experience, intelligence skills and community mobilization expertise  of Ano to be of great use for the 10ID operation.

Despite his immense trust,  Iriberri threw the challenge for Ano to continue winning peace under the Internal Peace  and Security Plann (IPSP) Bayanihan Framework, to protect and  to build upon the gains made under the leadership of retired Maj. General Bernardo.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1591406878478