PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd has named Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, a decorated and seasoned officer, as the second highest in command official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and 14 other star-rank and senior officers to various key positions.

Coballes’ appointment as new AFP vice chief of staff came after lt. general Reynaldo Mapagu bowed out last week from the service, three days ahead of his mandatory retirement age.

Coballes will officially take his post on October 22, coinciding with Mapagu’s 56th birthday.

Prior to his new designation, Coballes was commander of the AFP-Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom). He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Mapitagan Class of 1980.

Further back, he also served as commander of the First Infantry Division (ID), the first Scout Ranger Regiment, the 1003rd Infantry Brigade (IB), the 105th IB, and the Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent in East Timor.

Coballes is a recipient of two distinguished conduct stars, the second highest military honor given to officers and enlisted personnel of the AFP, among other recognitions.

Replacing Coballes at the Westmincom is Maj. Gen. Rey Ardo, the current commander of the sixth Infantry Division.

Ardo, a member of the PMA Dimalupig Class of 1981, was the former commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade and chief of Unified Command Staff of Central Command in 2007. He is also a recipient of four Distinguished Service Stars, one Gold Cross Medal, and one Bronze Cross Medal.

Moving to the Sixth ID is Maj. Gen. Ceasar Ronnie Ordoyo, the incumbent chief of the Intelligence Service of the AFP.

Maj. Gen. Raul Dimatatac will also assume position as vice commander of the Philippine Air Force, replacing Maj. Gen. Renato Lorenzo Sanchez who will also retire on October 26. Dimatatac is the current chief of Air Staff and former 506th Air Base Wing Commander.

Dimatatac, on the other hand, will be replaced by Brigadier Gen. Wilfredo Ona, the current deputy commander of the third Air Division (AD), who, in turn will be replaced by 520th Air Base Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Edgar Fallorina.

Col. John Oliviamor Estabillo, the current deputy commander of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing, will assume as chief of the 50th Air Base Wing.

The new designations for Dimatatac, Ona, Fallorina, and Estabillo will take effect on October 26.

Meanwhile, AFP deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, J5, major general Roy Deveraturda was also re-assigned as the new commander of the Second Air Division of the Philippine Air Force. He is the former chief of the AFP Modernization Program Management Office and Commander of 15th Strike Wing and 570th Composite Tactical Wing.

Replacing Deveraturda as J5 is Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, Commander of the 15th Strike Wing. Delgado, who was also a senior Military adviser to the President, will be replaced by Col. Galileo Gerard Kintanar, current chief of the AFP Office for Strategic Studies, as Commander of the 15th Strike Wing. The reassignment of Deveraturda, Delgado, and Kintanar were effective on October 16.

Several senior officers of the Philippine Army were also given new positions effective on October 16. Among them is Col. Buenaventura Pascual, commander of Task Force Zamboanga, who was reassigned as commander of 1003rd IB.

Moreover, Col. Rafael Valencia, the current chief of the Army Resource Management Office, will assume as 802nd IB Commander.

Col. Amadeo Azul, the chief of staff of Seventh ID, will be reassigned as commander of 101st IB. Also, Col. Glorioso Miranda, commander of 1002nd Infantry Brigade, will become the Assistant Commandant and Dean of Academics of the AFP Command and General Staff College.