Abaya took over the post left vacant by Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling who earlier replaced retired Lt. Gen. Jose Calimlim as AFP vice chief of staff.
Abaya, former commander of the Lucena City-based Southern Luzon Command, will be replaced by Carolina, former chief of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
Carolina is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1970, while Abaya is a 1971 graduate of the US Military Academy.
Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, AFP spokesman, said Carolina’s replacement in the 7th ID has yet to be named. Sources, however, said the post might go to Brig. Gen. Alberto Braganza, currently President Arroyo’s senior military assistant.
Quoting a military plan, an official said Braganza, a non-PMAyer, will be replaced by Brig. Gen. Glenn Rabonza, current Presidential Security Group commander and also a member of PMA Class 1970.
Army Col. Hermogenes Esperon, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade based in Basilan and a member of PMA Class 1974, will reportedly be named the new PSG commander vice Rabonza.
Esperon is rumored to be replaced by Col. Alexander Aleo, currently the Army assistant chief of staff for operations.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Rivera was designated assistant chief of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Samar vice Brig. Gen. Marcelino Malajacan.
Rivera, placed on floating status following the conclusion of the recent ASEAN Army Rifle Meet which he chaired, is a classmate of Malajacan in PMA Class 1971.