AFP submits list of aspirants for next Army chief

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces’ Board of Generals (BOG) has submitted a shortlist of contenders for the next Army chief that would succeed Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, who will retire from the service this month.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said 11 generals are qualified to assume as commander of the more than 70,000-strong Army.

“The BOG has met already and has submitted recommendations on who will be the next commanding-general of the Philippine Army,” Burgos said in a press briefing yesterday.

“We have forwarded already the recommendations to the secretary of National Defense and this will go up to the Commander-in-Chief for selection and approval,” he added.

The BOG is composed of the AFP chief of staff, the vice chief of staff, the deputy chief of staff, and the major service commanders.

The two most senior generals who are qualified for the post are AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara and Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa.

Both are members of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class ’79 and are classmates of AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr.

Nine two-star generals are qualified to succeed Ortiz.

They are 9th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Josue Gaverza Jr.; AFP Inspector-General Maj. Gen. Irineo Espino; deputy chief of staff for communications, electronics and information systems Maj. Gen. Elmir de la Cruz; 2nd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Romulo Bambao; PMA Superintendent Maj. Gen. Nonato Peralta; 10th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Jorge Segovia; 1st Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Noel Coballes; 3rd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and deputy chief of staff for operations Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr.

Gaverza is a graduate of PMA class ’78 while Espino, De la Cruz, Bambao and Peralta are members of class ’79. Segovia and Coballes are members of class ’80 while Mabanta and Bautista belong to class ’81.

Burgos, however, could not tell who among the 11 were included in the shortlist of contenders for Army chief.

“They are just qualified (to be Army chief). In order for you to qualify as replacement of the commanding-general of the Army, you should have at least one year remaining in service,” Burgos said.

“Submitted along with the list of (contenders) is their summary of information, personal profile, significant accomplishments and vision for the Army,” he added.

Burgos gave assurance that the selection process would take into account the qualifications of contenders.

Ortiz is scheduled to retire on Nov. 13 after more than 30 years in military service. The change of command ceremony has been scheduled tentatively on Nov. 9 or 10.