A highly placed source in the military identified Cimatu’s personal choices as Army commander Lt. Gen. Dionisio Santiago and Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina.
"Santiago and Carolina were highly recommended by Cimatu himself," the source said.
Cimatu, who bows out of the service next month, has reportedly submitted his "short list" to Malacañang.
The source added, however, that the two other major service commanders — Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor of the Air Force, Vice Admiral Victorino Hingco of the Navy — along with Armed Forces vice chief Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling and Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya, can be considered "dark horses."
"These officials are also highly qualified and they also have major contributions to the government’s military campaign against the enemies of the state," the source said. "It is not over until it is over."
Cimatu was originally scheduled to retire last June upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56, but President Arroyo extended his tenure in what was largely perceived as a bonus for his "expert handling" of the Abu Sayyaf crisis while he was still Southcom commander.
Cimatu, Carolina and Santiago are members of the Philippine Military Academy Class ’70.
In another development, the Army welcomed the Senate recommendation for court martial proceedings against three of its senior officials accused of maintaining an unholy alliance with the
Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, saying it will provide the respondents an opportunity to air their side.
Army spokesman Col. Michael Manquiquis said the Senate findings did not mean that the three officials were already guilty. "The result of the Senate hearing should not be interpreted as a conviction."
Manquiquis also gave assurances that the Senate report on the alleged collusion between the military and the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers in Basilan has not affected the morale of the troops.
"There is no demoralization within the military. It’s part of the system," he said, adding that the Senate inquiry was conducted in aid of legislation.
Those implicated in the alleged collusion with the terrorists were Maj. Gen. Romeo Dominguez, Col. Juvenal Narcise and Maj. Eliseo Campued.
Lamitan parish priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda charged that the troops under the command of the three officers allowed the Abu Sayyaf gunmen to escape in exchange for a share of a huge amount of ransom paid by one of the hostages.
Manquiquis also defended the recent promotion of Dominguez, saying there was no sufficient proof to substantiate the charges against him, hence there was no reason to withhold his promotion.
Dominguez earned recently his second star and was named commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Samar.
Denying the allegations, Dominguez said "I never betrayed my oath and my conscience is clear."
Cimatu said they would immdiately start the trial after they have received the report of the Senate committees on national defense and human rights which conducted the inquiry on allegations that the Abu Sayyaf terrorists were deliberately allowed to escape with their hostages although already cornered by government forces in Lamitan town, Basilan on June 2 last year.
Narcise has insisted that they did their best to capture the Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Cimatu vowed that the proceedings would be transparent and impartial to ensure that justice is served.
"We assure you that our judicial process is fair. We will render sound judgment. All members of our judicial system are honorable men and our judicial process will be evenhanded," he said.
Dominguez, Narcise and Campued were charged with "misbehavior before the enemy and endangering the command because of recklessness and negligence, and conduct unbecoming officers and gentlemen."
The Senate committees said the three officers might have violated pertinent provisions of the Articles of War in connection with the escape of the Abu Sayyaf gunmen, bringing with them most of the 20 hostages they seized six days earlier from the posh resort of Dos Palmas in Palawan, among them three Americans.
The military’s Judge Advocate General, Col. Manuel Ibañez, said the military still has the option to ignore the Senate report, saying it is merely recommendatory.