GMA names Southcom head as next Armed Forces chief

DAVAO CITY – President Arroyo announced here yesterday the appointment of Southern Command (Southcom) chief Lt. Gen. Narciso Abaya as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"There will be no ‘unless, unless’," Mrs. Arroyo said of the assured appointment of Abaya to succeed Gen. Dionisio Santiago, who is set to retire in April.

Mrs. Arroyo emphasized before a news conference held at Marco Polo Hotel here late Tuesday that nothing could bar Abaya’s appointment as the next AFP chief.

In Manila, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes confirmed that "General Abaya is really groomed to assume the position" as the next military chief.

Santiago, who is slated to retire on April 8, told reporters that he wanted to overhaul the entire military leadership before hanging up his uniform.

Santiago hinted that a major military reshuffle is forthcoming, stressing the need to revitalize the military leadership to meet the challenges of the changing times.

In a jovial mood, Mrs. Arroyo went on to praise Abaya’s exploits as a military officer and his impressive scholastic background.

Mrs. Arroyo particularly cited Abaya’s being a high school valedictorian and the highest ranking Filipino graduate from West Point, the premier military school in the United States.

Abaya, a 1971 West Point graduate, also topped the engineering board examination after returning from the US.

"But most of all it is because of his outstanding reputation for integrity," Mrs. Arroyo added.

It was learned that Mrs. Arroyo already made public her choice of the next AFP chief earlier in the day in a dialogue with residents of Mamasapano town in Maguindanao where she launched the Community Integrated Delivery of Social Services-Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (CIDSS-KALAHI) project in the area.

"I am humbled by her pronouncements. The best that I could do is perform my job to the best of my ability," Abaya told The STAR.

Abaya is a seasoned combat officer familiar with ground tactics as he reportedly led a number of military task forces given difficult assignments such as the rescue of the Sipadan hostages and the rescue of American hostage Jeffrey Schilling in 2001.

Mrs. Arroyo said it was under Abaya’s watch as Southcom chief that the military was able to achieve its major victory against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and the kidnap group Pentagon Gang.

"It is a major victory because 28 of the enemies have been killed while no one died among our soldiers," she said.

Despite some grumblings due to the seemingly premature announcement, military personnel in the South were jubilant following Abaya’s appointment.

"He deserves it because he is one of the best in the Philippine military. Not only is he a decorated officer, general Abaya is well-respected by many," Army Sgt. Nicolas Santos said.

Philippine military commanders in the southern Philippines also backed Abaya, described by many as "the best man for the job."

The Chief Executive also cited the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade in Maguindanao in its ongoing operations against rebels and bandit groups in the province.

She described the military unit as "the brigade of future CS’s (chief of staffs)," noting that its commander, Col. Gardioso Luna, is a graduate of Wharton University in the US.

"He (Luna) could be CS (chief of staff), but that would be beyond my term," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Mrs. Arroyo also promoted to the rank of lieutenant general was AFP vice chief of staff Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1970.

Prior to his assignment as deputy AFP chief, Garcia was the commander of the military’s Northern Luzon Command based at Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac. – With reports from Roel Pareño, Jaime Laude, AFP