Dellosa is new AFP chief of staff

CEBU, Philippines - Starting today, Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa sits as the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to replace military chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr., who is set to retire.

Today’s turnover ceremony will be held at the Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, at 10 a.m.

Dellosa was the former commanding general of the Northern Luzon Command, Camp Aquino, Tarlac City.

Last week, all officers with the rank of lieutenant general were in the list of candidates submitted by the Board of Generals to Aquino who then chose who will be the next chief of staff before Oban retires on Dec. 7.

Dellosa was born in Bacon, Sorsogon, on Jan. 20, 1957 and completed his elementary, high school and college years in Lucena City.

As a son of a solider who served in the Korean War, Freedom Dellosa, being a soldier was inculcated in his mind since he was young. At the age of 18, Lt. Gen. Dellosa entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1975 and graduated in 1979.

He had his first assignment in Jolo, Sulu and Basilan where he was twice wounded in combat against the Moro National Liberation Front. For his actions he received the PMA cavalier Award for Military Operations by the PMAAAI in 1988.

He was also the Commanding Officer of 51IB, 11D, Junior Aide-de Camp to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and at the same time the group commander of the Special Reaction Unit of the Presidential Security Group that defended Malacañang palace from coup attempts from 1988 until 1992.

From 1992 to 1997, Dellosa became the commandant of the Scout Ranger Training School. He then became the Deputy Task Force Commander and Operation Officer of Joint Task Force which the neutralized the Abu Sayyaf group under Abu Sabaya and rescued the Burnham couple in the hinterlands of Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.

He was also designated Commandant of cadets of the Philippine Military Academy before he assumed office as the Deputy Commander of the Central Command, AFP in Cebu City.

Engr. James Dellosa, the general’s brother, told The FREEMAN that with the leadership of his brother the benefits of all AFP members will be recognized like the housing and education programs, among others.

“The role of my brother is the same as PNoy’s, there will be no anomaly at hindi rin niya ugali ang nakikisali sa politics,” he said over a phone interview.

The PMA Class of 1979, who are known as the allies of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, assured they will never attempt to destabilize the government.

“The rule of the military is outside politics, walang palakasan system,” James said. — /BRP (FREEMAN)