Major changes in AFP leadership loom

MANILA, Philippines - A major leadership change in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) looms with the scheduled retirement of two senior military commanders this month and next month.

AFP Public Affairs Office chief Marine Col. Edgard Arevalo yesterday said that the AFP’s Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) based in Lucena City in Quezon will have a new commander this weekend following the compulsory retirement of Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Quidilla.

On Sept. 4, Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo will retire, but his replacement is also yet to be announced.

Solcom has operational jurisdiction over the entire Southern Luzon area while Nolcom has jurisdiction over the entire Northern Luzon, including the disputed Panatag Shoal off the coast of Zambales – currently being occupied by the Chinese – and Benham Rise in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Aurora province.

Last Friday, AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año installed Maj. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar, a Philippine Air Force pilot, as the new commander of the Palawan-based Western Command, following the compulsory retirement of Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario, also a PAF pilot.

Westcom has operational jurisdiction over the country’s territorial and maritime domain in the disputed Spratlys archipelago.