MANILA, Philippines - Six of the 10 three-star generals who are qualified to become the next Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief are graduates of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class ’78, which adopted former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as member.
The three-star generals and Arroyo mistahs (classmates) who are qualified to be the next AFP chief are Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, Western Command chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, and Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero.
Data from the AFP public affairs office showed that three of the possible contenders are graduates of PMA class ’79.
They are Navy chief Vice Adm. Alexander Pama, AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara and Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa.
The three are classmates of AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr., who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Dec. 13.
On the other hand, one three star-general who qualified for the post – Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer – belongs to the more senior PMA class ’77.
Talks are rife that while the class ’78 members are professional officers, they are not likely to be named AFP chief due to their supposed links with Arroyo.
Class ’78 member and former AFP chief Gen. Delfin Bangit was forced to retire early because then incoming President Aquino had announced that he would name a new military chief.
Bangit was supposed to retire last July 31, 2011 but decided to hang up his uniform on June 22, 2010. His retirement came just over three months after he assumed his post on March 10, 2010.
Bangit served as chief of staff for 104 days, making him the armed forces chief with third shortest stint since 1897.
On the other hand, sources said Dellosa is a strong contender to be the next AFP chief. Dellosa was a former member of the Presidential Security Group of the late President Corazon Aquino and an erstwhile commander of the Army’s 2nd Division.
AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos confirmed that the Board of Generals (BOG) had submitted a list of nominees for AFP chief to Aquino. He, however, could not tell who among the general officers are included in the list.
“It’s confidential,” Burgos said, adding that all general officers are qualified to be the next AFP chief.
The BOG is composed of the AFP chief, the AFP vice chief, the AFP deputy chief of staff and the commanders of the Army, Air Force and the Navy. The BOG submits its recommendations to the President through the defense secretary.
Burgos said officers with the ranks of brigadier general, major general, lieutenant general and their Navy equivalents are qualified to be AFP chief.
When asked if Arroyo’s mistahs in class ’78 could still be appointed AFP chief, Burgos said: “All of the generals have their chances.”
Farewell calls
Meanwhile, Oban has started making his farewell calls by visiting his counterparts in Brunei and Malaysia.
Oban, who will retire this month, left the country on Monday to visit Maj. Gen. Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
He went to Malaysia last Thursday to meet with Gen. Datuk Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zain, chief of Defense Force of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
“The purpose of General Oban’s travel to Brunei and Malaysia is for him to pay an official call and farewell visits with his counterparts or armed forces equivalent in those countries,” Burgos said.
“The visits are part of the underlying purpose of the AFP to continuously strengthen its bond with its counterparts in other nations,” he added.
Oban assumed as chief of the 130,000-strong armed forces last March 7. During his assumption, he vowed to implement strong anti-corruption measures and programs that would uplift the morale of soldiers.
Oban is expected to turn over his post to his successor on Dec. 12, a day before he turns 56.