Villanueva named new Army chief

A major reshuffle in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is in store in the next few weeks with the retirement of a top commander and the approval of appointments of six senior military officers.

Sources at Camp Agui-naldo said President Estrada has designated Lt. Gen. Diomedio Villanueva as the new commanding general of the Philippine Army to replace Lt. Gen. Voltaire Gazmin.

Gazmin, a former commander of the elite Presidential Security Group under former President Corazon Aquino, is scheduled to hang his uniform when he reaches the age of 56 on Oct. 22.

He was one of Mrs. Aquino’s most loyal soldiers during the series of coup attempts launched against her administration.

Villanueva, on the other hand, was a former commander of the Southern Luzon Command at Camp Nakar in Lucena City before his designation as chief of the Southern Command in Zamboanga City. He and Gazmin were batchmates in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1968.

Mr. Estrada has reportedly tapped Maj. Gen. Gregorio Camiling, chief of the 6th Infantry Division based in Awang, Maguindanao, to replace Villanueva as Southcom chief.

Camiling, a member of PMA Class 1969, had been cited for his role in neutralizing Moro Islamic Liberation Front separatists in Central Mindanao.

Two other top officers – AFP Visayas command chief Maj. Gen. Jaime de los Santos and AFP deputy chief of staff Rear Adm. Napoleon Baylon – will be also affected by the revamp. The two men will be swapping positions next week.

De los Santos gained fame for commanding the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor.

AFP sources said Brig. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo, commander of the 205th Tactical Operations Wing, has been designated as the new deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, replacing Maj. Gen. Ruben Ciron.

Brig. Gen. Armando de Mata, commander of the 420th Supply Wing, will replace retiring Brig. Gen Eliseo Rico as the AFP deputy chief of staff for communications and electronics information on Oct. 24.