MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday extended the term of Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, who is slated to reach the mandatory retirement age on December 17.
Guerrero will now serve as the new AFP chief until April 24, 2018.
The order extending Guerrero’s term as AFP chief was signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, by authority of the commander-in-chief, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Thursday.
“The president has extended his service... as per Republic Act No. 8186, or six months since he assumed office as AFP chief of staff,” Roque said.
Eleven days before his retirement, Guerrero was confirmed as Armed Forces chief of staff by the powerful Commission on Appointments on Wednesday.
He led 40 other senior officers of the AFP who also got the CA’s nod.
Guerrero, who graduated in the top three of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1984, replaced Gen. Eduardo Año, who retired last October 26.
He took charge of the AFP as the military wound down operations in Marawi City, which had been besieged by Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists since May, and as prospects for peace talks with communist rebels dimmed further.