New AFP chief to assume Jan. 17

MANILA, Philippines - The military will have a new leader on Jan. 17, three days before incumbent Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa reaches the mandatory age of 56.

Dellosa will relinquish his post on Jan. 17 to accommodate the schedule of President Aquino, who will serve as the presiding officer of the turnover ceremony.

“The Chief of Staff (Dellosa) will be turning 56 on Jan. 20 but the change of command ceremony will take place here in Camp Aguinaldo on Jan. 17,” AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said Friday.

Burgos said they do not know yet who would succeed Dellosa as chief of the 125,000-strong armed forces.

Sources, however, said the race for the next AFP chief has been narrowed down to two – Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro dela Cruz and Army chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.

Dela Cruz is reportedly being backed by a retired security official, whom sources said, is very close to Aquino. Bautista, meanwhile, is allegedly being supported by an incumbent security official.

Dela Cruz is a graduate of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class ’80 while Bautista is a member of PMA class ’81.

Burgos, however, denied that there is jockeying for positions in the military.

“We are a professional organization. Everything goes through the process of the promotion system and the Board of Generals. Whoever will be selected is qualified for the post,” he said.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Aquino has finished interviewing the contenders for AFP chief.

Gazmin said he conducted the interviews with the president and Dellosa.

“The president will make the final decision. The position requires the trust and confidence (of the president) and capability,” he told radio station dzRH. 

Gazmin, however, said the Army has an advantage due to its huge number.

“Yes because majority of those in the armed forces are from the Army,” the defense chief said in Filipino.

“This year we need the help of the armed forces particularly the Army in the elections,” he added.

The Army constitutes more than 60 percent of the military forces.

Gazmin, however, clarified that the selection for military chief contenders is not limited to the Army officials.

Sources earlier revealed that Bautista, dela Cruz, Armed Forces Vice Chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes and AFP Southern Luzon Command chief Maj. Gen. Alan Luga were in the shortlist of contenders submitted to Aquino.