DND submits shortlist for next AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) has submitted to President Aquino the shortlist of candidates for the next Armed Forces chief.

The list contains four names of senior military officers: Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz, AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes and Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) head Maj. Gen. Alan Luga.

Meanwhile, military insiders informed The STAR yesterday that President Aquino met with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin at Daza Park in Camp Aguinaldo last Friday to tackle major changes in the military leadership once AFP chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa retires on his 56th birthday on Jan. 20.

“For all we know, the President may have chosen Dellosa’s replacement last Friday evening,” a source told The STAR.

Gazmin earlier told Camp Aguinaldo reporters that he was scheduled to meet with Aquino to discuss Dellosa’s replacement.

The defense chief said that all senior military officers were being considered for the top AFP post.

But after a series of deliberations, top  defense and military officials decided to cut short the long list of candidates for the top AFP post to four and forwarded this to the Palace.

Of the four candidates, Bautista and De la Cruz are reportedly leading the race.

Bautista belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981 while De la Cruz is a member of PMA Class 1980.

Coballes also belongs to PMA Class 1980 while Luga is from Class 1981.

Bautista and De la Cruz are reportedly backed by influential lobby groups.