Outgoing AFP chief successor to look into weapons systems recommendations

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 2): Outgoing AFP chief successor to look into weapons systems recommendations

The successor of Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya, who is scheduled to step down next week, would consider the outgoing chief's recommendations on modernization of the military, particularly on certain weapons systems.

"His (Visaya's recommendation on certain weapons system) will be looked into by the new AFP chief. He (the replacement) will not be starting from zero," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said in an interview with PNA.

Arevalo said Visaya's recommendations along with the TWGs will be closely looked into prior to acquisition which might boost the military's capability.

Last November, it was learned that Visaya and other ranking military officials visited Israel to look into possible weapons which might be acquired by the AFP.

Israel weapons are considered among the best and sophisticated in the world with Israeli munition companies capable of designing and producing a variety of missile systems.

Visaya is scheduled to retire on Dec. 7 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

He is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983 and he started his term as AFP chief last July 1.

As this develops, all three star rank officers in the AFP are included in the list for Visaya's replacement.

This includes Army head Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano, Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Joseph Roland Mercado, Eastern Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Leonardo Guerrero, Western Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo Dela Cruz, and AFP vice chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda and Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Raul Del Rosario.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=945219