Iriberri will get CA nod: Military

From Malaya (Jul 24): Iriberri will get CA nod: Military

PRESIDENT Aquino yesterday promoted Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri to the rank of general (four stars), 13 days after he succeeded now retired Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang as Armed Forces chief.

Iriberri’s promotion is actually “ministerial” because he is holding a four-star position, said Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, chief of the AFP’s public affairs office, referring to the top military post.

Detoyato said Iriberri, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983, will wear his new rank today during rites to be presided by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in Camp Aguinaldo.

Detoyato said the military is confident Iriberri’s promotion will get the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments despite a graft case filed against the military chief by a contractor, Joavi Philippines, before the Office of the Ombudsman last May in connection with an ammunitions deal.

The graft case was lodged while Iriberri was still the Army chief.

Detoyato said Iriberri can answer the case “in the right forum.”

On allegations raised by leftist organizations about supposed human rights violations by Iriberri, Detoyato said: “Those are allegations. Allegations are allegations. They have to prove it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the military has two new J-staff or joint staff members in the persons of Brigadier Generals Guillermo Molina (PMA Class 1986) and Job Yucoco (Class 1984).

Molina, previous deputy commander of the AFP Western Command, assumed the post of AFP deputy chief for plans, replacing Maj. Gen. Raul del Rosario who was earlier named commander of the 1st Air Division in Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

Del Rosario replaced Maj. Gen. Julius Caesar Guillermo who is now commander of the 2nd Air Division in Mactan Air Base in Cebu that was vacated by now retired Maj. Gen. Eusquito Manalo.

http://malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/iriberri-will-get-ca-nod-military