Army officer once linked to Jonas Burgos kidnapping is new AFP deputy chief of staff for ops

From GMA News (Sep 19): Army officer once linked to Jonas Burgos kidnapping is new AFP deputy chief of staff for ops

A senior Army officer who was once linked to the kidnapping and disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos has been designated as the new deputy chief of staff for operations (J3) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Brig. Gen. Noel Clement replaced Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez, who is now the commander of the Maguindanao-based 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. Clement assumed his new post Friday last week.

"He is well-qualified to work and be the J3, not only because of his extensive experience in operational matters being an Army officer, but also his previous stint at the [office of the] J3 itself," said AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla of Clement, his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy class of 1985.

Clement had previously served at the office of the AFP deputy chief of staff for operations as a staff officer.

He was linked to the April 2007 disappearance of Burgos, who was last seen at a restaurant in a Quezon City mall, when he was commander of the 56th Infantry Battalion in Bulacan.

Clement, then a lieutenant colonel, was among those investigated by the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for the kidnapping.

Most of them, however, were cleared for lack of evidence. Padilla, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the Burgos issue would not hound Clement in his new position.

"He's been posted to various positions of major responsibility and there was never any issue at that," he said.

"So there is no reason to hold him from holding this office because he was able to hold on to those [assignments] previously." 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/581942/news/nation/army-officer-once-linked-to-jonas-burgos-kidnapping-is-new-afp-deputy-chief-of-staff-for-ops