Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Defense chief bares appointment of 6 senior officers
DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday announced the approval by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the appointment of six senior military officers to key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The appointment came with the impending retirement of AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on May 12 and assumption of Lieutenant General Alexander Yano, chief of the Philippine Army, as incoming AFP chief.
Leading the newly appointed military officers is Lieutenant General Cardozo Luna, who is appointed as incoming AFP vice chief of staff to replace Lieutenant General Antonio Romero II, who is set to go on vacation leave effective May 8 before his mandatory retirement on June 25, 2008.
Luna is the commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincon). Among the significant positions he served were assistant chief of staff for the Army's Civil Military Operations (G7); chief of the Defense Intelligence and Security Group; brigade commander covering Cotabato; commanding general of the Army's 4th Infantry Division (ID); and commander of the AFP Central Command.
Lieutenant General Rodolfo Maclang is appointed as incoming AFP deputy chief of staff vice Lieutenant General Pedro Ike Inserto.
Maclang is the commander of Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom). He served as commander of the 58th Infantry Battalion; chief of the AFP Joint Operations Center; commander of the Light Armor Division; deputy chief of staff for Intelligence Division (J2); and commanding general of the Army's 8th and 5th IDs.
Lieutenant General Victor Ibrado will replace Yano as Army chief.
Ibrado is the commander of the AFP Central Command (Centcom). He also served as commanding general of the Army's 3rd ID based in Jamindan, Capiz; brigade commander in the Visayas; and head of the Special Operations Command that is responsible for the readiness of the Rangers, the Special Forces and the counter-terrorist Light Reaction Battalion.
Ibrado was replaced by Inserto as commander of Centcom.
Inserto is the deputy chief of staff of the AFP. Among the significant positions he served were senior military assistant to the secretary of the Department of National Defense; wing commander of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing; commander of the Air Force's Tactical Operations Command; and commander of Air Education Training Command. (VR/Sunnex)
