MAJ. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Marines commandant, is reportedly the strongest contender for the post of Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, who is scheduled to retire on April 1.
Sabban, the youngest member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1978, reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 on April 1. He heads the Armed Forces Western Command (Wescom) based in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Wescom’s area of responsibility covers the West Philippine Sea (WPS), where the Philippines actively claim at least seven islets and two reefs composing the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), a municipality of Palawan.
The oil-rich maritime area is also actively being claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.
Sabban’s exploits against terrorism and insurgency earned him the respect of the militaries abroad.
Military sources said Sabban could have been appointed Armed Forces chief of staff if not for his involvement in coup attempts against the mother of President Aquino, the late President Corazon Aquino.
Guerrero, also a battle-tested Mindanao warrior against terrorism, is a member of PMA Class of 1981.
If Guerrero bags the Wescom post, he will get another star.
Under the present Armed Forces table of organization, the Marines commandant is a major general (two star).
Reportedly, classmates Brig. Gens. Alexander Balutan and Romeo Tanalgo of PMA Class of 1983 are on the list of contenders for Marine commandant.
Tanalgo was the former Sulu Island commander before he was promoted to his current position as head of the Armed Forces’ Command Center based in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Balutan is the commander of the 1st Marine Brigade based in the Cotabato provinces. He was among senior officers who exposed the the alleged rigging of the 2004 presidential election where the military was allegedly used by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to secure her win in the race.
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