Southcom chief retires

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza is set to retire today, leaving the helm of Southcom open to contenders.

Today, Braganza turns 56, the mandatory age of retirement for soldiers. He will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Edilberto Adan as the officer-in-charge of Southcom in a formal turnover ceremony.

The appointment of Adan, who is also the AFP deputy chief of staff, was announced past 6 p.m. yesterday by President Arroyo. The AFP board of generals are still deliberating over the qualifications of candidates for Braganza’s post.

Among those eyed to head Southcom are Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, current commander of the 4th Army Division based in Cagayan de Oro; Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon, chief of the 1st Army Division based in western Mindanao; and Maj. Gen. Allan Cabalquinto, chief of the National Capital Region Command (NCRC).

Bagasin and Habacon are reportedly in the lead because of their combat and operations experience in the southern Philippines. It was earlier rumored that Bagasin would take the Southcom post.

AFP chief of staff Gen. Generoso Senga will preside over the turnover of command.

Braganza, a direct commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps 1971, is credited for the arrest of several high-ranking commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, a bandit group with links to the international terrorist group al-Qaeda. — Roel Pareño