The Board of Generals will meet after the Holy Week to finalize a shortlist for President Rodrigo Duterte, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
WESTMINCOM. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte confers the Order of Lapu-Lapu Kamagi Medal on Western Mindanao Command commander Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez during the 121st Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Army. Malacañang Photo
MANILA, Philippines – Classmates of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985 are competing for the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana named the top commanders in Mindanao – Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal and Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez – as the "strongest candidates" to succeed AFP chief General Rey Guerrero.
"There are several candidates for that. One is General Madrigal of Eastmincom, General Galvez of Westmincom. They are the strongest candidates," Lorenzana told Pinky Webb in an interview on CNN Philippines on Tuesday, March 20.
Lorenzana confirmed in a separate interview that Army chief Lieutenant General Rolando Joselito Bautista is also a possible contender.
Lorenzana said the Board of Generals will meet after the Holy Week to finalize a shortlist for President Rodrigo Duterte. All 3-star generals are possible candidates, but he said a shortlist of 5 names will be given to Duterte.
"All we can do is to recommend to the President 5 names and then he chooses," Lorenzana said.
AFP chief General Rey Guerrero is scheduled to retire on April 24. He replaced retired General Eduardo Año in October 2017, only two months before his supposed retirement in December 2017. His term was extended for 4 months.
EASTMINCOM. Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal leads the fight against communist insurgents. Photo from Army 10th ID
PHILIPPINE ARMY. Army chief Lieutenant General Rolando Joselito Bautista tours President Rodrigo Roa Duterte inside the Army Museum during the 121st anniversary celebration of the service on March 20, 2018. Malacañang Photo
What are the challenges for the next AFP chief? Guerrero's successor will lead the military as it continues to step up the campaign against communist insurgents and terrorists.
He will also become the implementor of martial law in Mindanao, which will last until the end of the year. The military will need to show significant gains in its operations in Mindanao to justify the long extension of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.
The military has enjoyed massive support nationwide since the battle of Marawi, where 166 soldiers were killed and about a thousand were wounded. But this popularity could be threatened by emerging issues raised against its war against the communists, the continued displacement of Marawi residents, and implementation of martial law. The military knows it should immediately address allegations of human rights violations.
Profiles of the contenders
Madrigal has been the commander of the Davao City-based Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) since November 2017. It's the post he was transferred to after serving as chief of the Bicol-based Southern Luzon Command for only 3 months.
He leads the military's operations against the New People's Army, responsible for Asia's longest-running communist insurgency, which remains strong in pockets of areas in Eastmincom. He is scheduled to retire in September 2019.
Galvez is the commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) and was previously expected to replace Año in October. He has been Westmincom commander since January 2017.
Galvez leads operations against terrorists in western Mindanao and has a good relationship with Mindanao stakeholders who support the peace process with the dominant Muslim rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). He is scheduled to retire in December.
Bautista has been the Philippine Army chief since October 2017. He led military operations as ground commander in Marawi City during the war when he was 1st Infantry Division commander serving under Galvez.
Bautista is widely perceived inside military circles to be a strong contender because of his closeness to the President. He was first commander of the Presidential Security Group in the Duterte administration. He is scheduled to retire in October.
The AFP chief post is a prerogative of the President.
"My preference is irrelevant because it will be the President who will choose. Besides, all of the 3 stars are all qualified. I know them all and I am sure whoever will be chosen will do a good job," said Lorenzana.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/198674-afp-chief-selection-guerrero-successor
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.