GMA chief guard to head ISAFP

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza will be the new head of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) next month.

Prestoza replaces Brig. Gen. Arsenio Arugay, who will head the Armed Forces’ National Capital Region Command.

President Arroyo is still choosing between Army Col. Carlos Clet, her senior military aide, and Brig. Gen. Celedonio Boquiren, head of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, as the new PSG chief, Prestoza said.

“The President has not yet discussed the matter (with me),” Prestoza said.

Clet, former PSG deputy commander, is member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1980 while Boquren is part of PMA Class 1978 and a classmate of Prestoza.

Prestoza was appointed as PSG chief in July 2006.

His appointment to the ISAFP came as no surprise, owing to his strong background in intelligence and security operations.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) has announced the appointment yesterday of the new commander of the Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM), a unit that serves as the major source of the fast-growing rank of military officers who are non-graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Named new ARESCOM commander was Brig. Gen. Danilo Garcia vice Brig. Gen. Luini Mirar, who retired after 33 years of military service.

On behalf of Army chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, Army vice commander Maj. Gen. Juanito Cabayao presided over the turnover ceremony between Garcia and Mirar at the ARESCOM headquarters at Camp Riego Dios de Tanza in Cavite.

A well-rounded officer, Garcia served as brigade commander of the 601th infantry brigade based in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat.

He served for nine years in Central Mindanao and his new assignment is another challenge in his career, Ibrado said.

ARESCOM also serves as the military’s force multiplier as it is directly in charge of the development of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program and the advancement of the Reserve Force in the Philippine Army.

At least 70 per cent of the entire AFP’s Officer Corps at present are from ARESCOM. – With Jaime Laude