NCRCOM has no chief yet

The National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM), a military unit tasked to secure the seat of the national government from coup plotters and other threat groups, is now left without a permanent commander.

Malacañang has not yet appointed the replacement of NCRCOM chief Lt. Gen. Allan Cabalquinto, who retired yesterday.

His deputy, Brig. Gen. Salvador Penaflo, took over his post and will assume command until a permanent NCRCOM chief is appointed.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Generoso Senga, who presided over yesterday’s turn-over of command ceremonies, explained that Cabalquinto’s replacement is still under deliberations.

NCRCOM, just like the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), Southern Luzon Command (Southcom), Visayas Command (Viscom), Western Command (Wescom) and the Southern Command (Southcom), is an area command headed by a general with a three-star rank.

On Thursday, Camp Aguinaldo insiders claimed that Cabalquinto’s replacement has already been forwarded for approval to Malacanang, which has yet to act on the matter.

But just the same, the turn-over rites pushed through yesterday with or without Cabalquinto’s official replacement. — Jaime Laude