With senior officers retiring, AFP reshuffle to follow

From InterAksyon (Oct 13): With senior officers retiring, AFP reshuffle to follow



Camp Aguinaldo, Gate 2 on EDSA. INTERAKSYON.COM FILE

The mandatory retirements of several senior officers are expected to lead to a reshuffle in key military positions in the next few days.

Among those bowing out for reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 is Lieutenant General John Bonafos, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Vice Chief of Staff. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandigan” Class of 1982.

Among the subject of speculation as his possible replacement is Major General Mayoralgo Dela Cruz, commander of the Army’s Mechanized Infantry Division and a member of the PMA “Matikas” Class ’83.

Dela Cruz is a “mistah” (classmate) of AFP chief Gen. Hernando Irriberi.

Also retiring soon is Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) commander Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad (Class ’82).

Among those pitched to take the helm of the Eastmincom are Maj. Gen. Arnold Quiapo (Class ’83), the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) chief; Maj. Gen. Oscar Lactao (PMA “Maharlika” Class ’84), the 4th Infantry Division commander;  and Lactao's mistah, 3rdInfantry Division commander Rey Guerrero.

Another Class ’84 member, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (J3) Maj. Gen. Angelito De Leon, is reportedly being groomed to take over the 7th Infantry Division.

Acting commander of the 7ID is Brigadier General Henry Sabarre (Class ’83), who will slide down to his former position as Assistant Division Commander.

The short lists of candidates for all the soon-to-be vacated positions have been submitted to the office of the Commander-n-Chief, President Benigno Aquino, according to a  statement by the AFP Public Affairs Office.

The statement said the process of choosing the vice chief has been completed, and the short list submitted to the Department of National Defense,  "and now it’s with the President for his approval. The supporting activities are already in place, actually there is already an invitation but the name of the incoming is still blank pending the approval of the President.”

The Board of Generals led by the AFP chief usually selects candidates to be included in the short list and then forwards this to the office of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who in turn sends it to Mr. Aquino.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/118862/with-senior-officers-retiring-afp-reshuffle-to-follow