Iriberri to retire as AFP chief

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (UPDATED 7:40 a.m., February 11) - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri said Wednesday he will retire days before the May 9 elections.

Iriberri confirmed his retirement when asked about possible extension of service following election ban of appointing officers during election period.

“It will be presumptuous for me to answer that question. I have already submitted my retirement papers as early as October last year,” he said.

Iriberri just laughed off rumors about his possible extension in service with the implementation of the appointment ban.

The AFP policy requires retiring personnel to complete and submit their retirement supporting documents to the AFP Pension and Gratuity Management Center six months prior to retirement date. 

Observers say the extension of Iriberri's service until after the election period will allow the next administration to select its new AFP chief.

Some senior military officers who were with the AFP chief said President Benigno Aquino III, as their commander-in-chief, could make a request to the Commission on Election (Comelec) to appoint Iriberri’s successor.

Iriberri, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class 1983, was appointed AFP chief on July 10, 2015. He will be retiring on April 22, 2016 as he turns 56 years old, the mandatory age of retirement from service.

Iriberri also declined to name his possible successor. 

ERRATUM: In yesterday's story, it was mistakenly reported that AFP Chief of Staff General Hernando Iriberri has tendered his retirement to President Benigno Aquino III. 

The third paragraph of yesterday's story misquoted the AFP chief as saying: "It will be presumptuous to say that (Aquino to extend Iriberri's service). I have already submitted all my retirement papers to the president." 

The statement and quote have been corrected.