Retiring general named new AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines — Ending the guessing game, President Duterte designated yesterday Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero as the new head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replacing Gen. Eduardo Año, who is retiring today.

Duterte will preside over today’s command turnover between Año and Guerrero at Camp Aguinaldo.

Graduating in the top three of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1984, Guerrero is slated to retire on Dec. 17, although the President, being the appointing authority, can extend his term.

Guerrero was among the two top contenders to replace Año, who bows out of the military service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

His closest rival was Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, overall commander of the the military’s anti-terrorism campaign against the Islamic State-inspired Maute militants in Marawi and commander of the Zamboanga City-based Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Guerrero’s edge over Galvez, aside from being a Davao City-based area military commander, the hometown of the President, is that he is a senior of Galvez, who belongs to PMA Class 1985.

Prior to Guerrero’s designation by the President, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana described Guerrero and Galvez as both competent and highly capable officers.

Lorenzana, however, declined to preempt the decision of the President on Año’s replacement.

But in an order he signed yesterday, the President informed Lorenzana that he is designating Guerrero as the new AFP chief.

“I wish to inform you that, per your letter endorsement and in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines and chairman of the AFP Board of Generals, pursuant to Republic Act No. 8186, as amended by Republic Act No. 9188, the designation of Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero as Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines vice General Eduardo Ano,” the President in a letter-order to Lorenzana said.

Camp Aguinaldo insiders said Guerrero has no problem with his forthcoming retirement, as the designation of AFP chief is the sole prerogative of President Duterte being the appointing authority as commander-in-chief.

Earlier, Lorenzana confirmed that the race to the top AFP post has narrowed down from four to two contenders, which Camp Aguinaldo insiders later named to be Guerrero and Galvez.

Galvez came out as a contender for the top AFP post for his able leadership in liberating Marawi City from the IS-inspired Maute terrorist group.