AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Iriberri bows out of service

From GMA News (Apr 22): AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Iriberri bows out of service

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri bowed out of service on Friday, turning over the reins of leadership in the military to vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda.

President Benigno Aquino III was present during the retirement ceremony for Iriberri in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Iriberri had served from July 10, 2015 to April 22, 2016.

Appointments to government positions are banned because of the upcoming May 9 elections but Iriberri had to leave his post due to mandatory retirement.

Iriberri's successor, Miranda, a member of Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, had been  commanding general of the Northern Luzon Command before he assumed the post of vice chief of staff in March.

Miranda had swapped posts with then vice chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo. Both Miranda and Tanalgo are Iriberri’s classmates at the PMA.

Iriberri honors fallen soldiers

Iriberri chose to retire on his 56th birthday, April 22.

In his valedictory address, Iriberri honored the soldiers who were killed in a clash with Abu Sayyaf rebels on Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on April 9.

At least 18 soldiers were killed in Tipo-Tipo town in Basilan province on that day.

Five Abu Sayyaf rebels also died during the 10-hour gun battle on April 9.

Six days later, soldiers and Abu Sayyaf rebels again clashed in Basilan, in Ungkaya Pukan, a few kilometers away from Tipo-Tipo. Four soldiers were wounded in the incident and one rebel was killed.

Iriberri said the military mourns the deaths of the soldiers but will not cow down to its enemies.

Meanwhile, Iriberri also cited the military's commitment to maintain a peace and order during the upcoming May 9 elections.

He cited the March 25 survey of Social Weather Stations where the AFP received a rating of 70 percent on the issue of voter's trust that the AFP would be able to maintain peace and order on election day.

PNoy lauds Iriberri

Aquino, in his speech during the retirement ceremony and turnover rites, lauded Iriberri for his achievement in Abra where he was assigned during the 2013 elections.
The President said no failure of elections was declared in Abra and no election-related violent incidents were recorded.

Aquino said he trusts that Miranda would be capable of overseeing the peaceful and orderly conduct of the upcoming national and local polls.

According to his profile on the Philippine government website, Iriberri was commissioned to the AFP Regular Force in March 1983 after graduating from the PMA.

Iriberri, in his 31 years of service, is an infantry man but has also served in the fields of intelligence, public relations, and international peace support operations.

Among the many posts he has assumed was as a platoon leader and company commander of the 23rd Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division, assigned to the provinces of Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur.

In 1996, he led three Scout Ranger companies during an attack on Camp Didagen at the Reina Regente Mountains in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao.

At that time, it was the second largest MILF camp. After three days of air-land battle concepts and deployment of the Scout Rangers, the entire complex was successfully seized without any troop casualties.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/563596/news/nation/afp-chief-of-staff-gen-iriberri-bows-out-of-service