Major AFP shakeup seen with 2 commanders’ retirement

MANILA, Philippines — A major shakeup in the leadership of the military looms with the scheduled retirement of the Air Force commander next week and the Navy chief early next month.

Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez is bowing out of the service on his 56th birthday next Friday while Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad will retire on Feb. 3, his 56th birthday.

Aside from the two key military posts that would be rendered vacant, the key posts of the Davao-based Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) and the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) are still vacant following the designation of Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. as new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief and Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay as new Army chief.

Santos used to command Eastmincom while Gapay was formerly commander of the Lucena City-based Solcom.

At least eight senior Air Force officers are in the running for Briguez’s post, including AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Erickson Gloria, Air Force vice commander Maj. Gen. Peiagio Valenzuela, Air Logistics Command chief Maj. Gen. Allen Paredes and Air Education and Training Command chief Maj. Gen. Ferdinand Cartuiano.

All the contenders are members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988.

Key contenders to the top Navy post to be vacated by Empedrad include Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, Naval Sea Systems Command chief Rear Admiral Rommel Jason Galang, Naval Education, Training and Doctrine Command chief Rear Admiral Lounrer Bernabe and Naval Forces Western Command chief Rear Admiral Erick Kagaoan, all of PMA class 1987.

Also in the running are Rear Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez, deputy chief of staff for naval reservist and retiree affairs; Rear Admiral Adelius Bordados, head of the AFP Education, Training and Doctrine Command, both of PMA Class of 1988.

Of the six contenders, Bacordo is leading the race for the top Navy post. Aside from being PMA class salutatorian, he has occupied key military posts prior to his being designated as the Navy’s Fleet commander. 

Meanwhile, the top Eastmincom post vacated by Santos is expected to be handed over to Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino, whose post as the Army’s 10th Infantry Division commander will be assumed by AFP deputy chief of staff for intelligence Maj. Gen. Reuben Basiao.

The top Solcom post vacated by Gapay is a toss up between 2nd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Arnulfo Burgos and AFP deputy chief of staff for civil-military operations Maj. Gen. Antonio Parade Jr.

Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said a major revamp in the AFP command is expected with the scheduled retirement of Briguez and Empedrad.

“Definitely there will be movements. There will be major movements because key military posts would be rendered vacant,” Arevalo said.