|
The Philippine government on Tuesday announced appointments to top
military posts, following the expected retirement of the Armed
Forces chief, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
Incumbent Army Chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano
will replace the 56-year-old Esperon on May 12 as the new chief of
the Armed Forces, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. was quoted
as saying.
Lieutenant General Victor Ibrado, chief of the
Armed Forces Central Command operating in the Visayas, will take
over Yano’s post. He also served as chief of the Army Special
Operations Command, which includes the Scout Rangers and Special
Forces regiments, and the US-trained Light Reaction Battalion before
he was promoted.
The military revamp also includes the posts of
vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff and commanders of the
military’s Central Command, Eastern Mindanao Command and Northern
Luzon Command.
Esperon was handpicked in July 2006 to serve as
the military chief.
The Constitution states that the tour of duty of
the Armed Forces chief shall not exceed three years. But the
Constitution also says the tour of duty can be extended by the
President in times of war or national emergency, as declared by
Congress.
Esperon is known for his loyalty to President
Gloria Arroyo, who has been relying on solid military support for
her turbulence-filled reign.
Arroyo will end her term in 2010. Talks have
been simmering that Esperon will replace Teodoro as the Defense
secretary, while Teodoro will head the Justice department.
-- Xinhua
|
