PSG chief to head ISAFP?

MANILA, Philippines – Outgoing Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza is reportedly being groomed to head the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

There had been unconfirmed reports that Prestoza is on his way out as PSG commander and his supposed impending designation as new ISAFP chief is now the subject of discussions among middle-grade and senior military officers.

Sources disclosed that Prestoza is set to be replaced anytime now by Brig. Gen. Celedonio Boquiren, commander of the Villamor-based 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW).

Both Prestoza and Boquiren are from Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1978, the same class that adopted President Arroyo as honorary member.

Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lt. Gen. Pedro Cadungog, however, said he has no information on the changing of the guard between Prestoza and his subordinate Boquiren.

“I have no confirmation yet,” Cadungog said, referring to Boquiren’s reported designation as new PSG commander.

Without expressing any opposition to Prestoza’s reported appointment as the new military intelligence chief, several middle-grade senior military officers questioned the wisdom behind Boquiren’s designation as incoming PSG commander.

One officer claimed that Boquiren got a very low performance rating from the PAF’s Inspector General (IG).

Their mother units, based on their annual performance, rate all military personnel, officers and enlisted personnel yearly.

“In the case of Gen. Boquiren he got a very low rating, not to mention his excess baggage, and then he will get the juicy appointment of PSG commander,” a senior officer lamented.

Prestoza is reportedly set to take over the top ISAFP post, a position currently occupied by Brig. Gen. Artemio Arugay.

Arugay, on the other hand, is leaving ISAFP to head the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) under Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa.

Mesa is retiring on June 2 and Arugay has already been designated as acting NCRCOM commander.