Ano is new AFP chief - sources

From InterAksyon (Dec 7): Ano is new AFP chief - sources

Army chief Lieutenant General Eduardo Ano will replace his Philippine Military Academy classmate General Ricardo Visaya as Armed Forces commander during turnover ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday afternoon, informed sources said.

However, the designation only becomes official when President Rodrigo Duterte confirms this later in the day.

Ano will be the third member of PMA “Matikas” Class of 1983 to officially head the AFP. The first was retired general Hernando Irriberi.

But another classmate, current vice chief of staff Lieutenant General Glorioso Miranda, who will replace Ano at the helm of the Army, served briefly as acting AFP commander before the May elections.

Visaya is bowing out of the service on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Among the other senior officers said to be contenders for AFP chief are Lieutenant General Ray Guerrero and Major General Benjie Madrigal.

Ano will be serving 10 months as AFP chief. He is set to retire in October next year.

He commanded the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, the Intelligence Service of the AFP and the Army's Intelligence Security Group.

It was as ISG commander that he was implicated in the abduction and enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos, son of press freedom icon Jose Burgos Jr.

Although the Court of Appeals held the military accountable for Jonas’ disappearance, Ano himself was cleared by the courts and weathered attempts by Burgos’ mother Edita to block his appointment as general.

http://interaksyon.com/article/135025/ano-is-new-afp-chief---sources