2 ranking military officers to retire

MANILA, Philippines - Two ranking military officers will hang up their uniforms this week in what could be the start of major changes in the Armed Forces high command.

AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, a member of Philippine Military Academy class of 1976, will retire today.

His classmate, AFP deputy chief of staff Vice Adm. Emilio Marayag will leave the military service tomorrow.

Their successors have yet to be announced.

However, sources said the Board of Generals has recommended Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa, the National Development Support Command chief, to be the next AFP vice chief of staff and Rear Adm. Mario Catacutan, AFP deputy chief for logistics, to be the AFP deputy chief of staff.

Both Ochoa and Catacutan are members of PMA class of 1977.

Whoever will succeed Maclang and Marayag will only serve in an acting capacity due to the constitutional ban on appointments.

They will hold on to their posts until the next president designates a permanent vice chief of staff and deputy chief of staff.

Among members of PMA Class 1978 occupying top AFP posts are Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, National Capital Region Command chief Rear Adm. Feliciano Angue, Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Juan-cho Sabban and Intelligence Service chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Prestoza.

The Army held yesterday a testimonial review in honor of Maclang, who had served the military for 38 years.

Maclang was given the Philippine Army Command Plaque and a Certificate of Honorable Service. 

Maclang is a native of Surigao City and an undergraduate at Xavier University before entering military service. 

He started his early military service as a platoon leader of Charlie Company, 19th Infantry Battalion, and 3rd Infantry Division in the Visayas.

Other positions he held include deputy chief of staff for operations, Southern Command assistant chief of staff for operations, brigade commander of the Light Armor Brigade, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, Northern Luzon Command chief, and deputy chief of staff.

Marayag held various important military posts including assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel, chief of the AFP Pension and Gratuity Management Center, chief of Naval Staff, commander of naval forces in Western Mindanao, Navy vice commander and Armed Forces Inspector-General.