Iriberri retires Friday; successor not yet named

From Malaya Business Insight (Apr 20): Iriberri retires Friday; successor not yet named

THE Armed Forces yesterday said it has yet to receive word from Malacañang as to the successor of AFP chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri who is reaching the retirement age of 56 on Friday.

His tour of duty will unlikely be extended by President Aquino, according to a source.

Iriberri, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1983, assumed the top military post in July last year.

Soldiers and military assets on Monday started rehearsals for turnover ceremonies, said AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla.

Asked if the rehearsals means Iriberri’s term will not be extended, Padilla said it is a “political issue” that the military could not answer.

The AFP chief is usually selected from among the three-star generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces. There are 10 three-star generals and flag officers but three of them are due for retirement this year – Lt. Gen. Nicanor Vivar, chief of the Central Command, retiring in August; Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, chief of the Southern Luzon Command, in September; and Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez, chief of the Western Command, in August.

The seven other three-star officers are Vice Adm. Caesar Taccad, Navy chief, and Lieutenant Generals Glorioso Miranda, AFP vice chief; Eduardo Año, Army chief; Edgar Fallorina, Air Force chief; Romeo Tanalgo, Northern Luzon Command chief; Leonardo Guerrero, chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command; and Mayoralgo dela Cruz, chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the President is unlikely to extend the tour of duty of Iriberri to at least the end of the President’s term on June 30.

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