Once Villanueva chooses to retire early, he will be given an ambassadorial position, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"What I heard is that the President is reportedly planning to retire General Villanueva this December and would be given an ambassadorial position instead, to accommodate Cimatu," the official said.
Cimatu is currently the head of the Southern Command, which is primarily tasked to fight communist and separatist rebels in Mindanao and the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and Sulu.
The move, the official said, is to give Cimatu a chance to be the next Armed Forces chief of staff before he retires in June next year upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Villanueva is scheduled to retire in May 2002. If Villanueva is allowed to finish his term as Armed Forces chief, Cimatu cannot be appointed to the post to serve for only a month.
In a telephone interview, Cimatu said he is not thinking of the possible turnover of the highest military post as he is preoccupied in rescuing the remaining hostages and decimating the Abu Sayyaf.
"I’m not thinking about it (being appointed as Armed Forces chief). It’s enough for me and I would be very happy if I would be able solve this Abu Sayyaf problem," Cimatu said.