Bangit retires today; David next AFP chief?

MANILA, Philippines - An Army general is taking over command of the country’s more than 125,000-strong military to succeed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Delfin Bangit whose retirement takes effect today.

AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa will receive the AFP leadership baton from Bangit in a retirement and change-of-command ceremony at the Camp Aguinaldo parade grounds this afternoon.

Ochoa would serve in an acting capacity until an AFP chief is named by incoming president Benigno Aquino III.

There was speculation that Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David as AFP chief.

President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said he is inclined to appoint David as the next AFP chief.

Aquino had said that he would not retain Bangit, pointing out his appointment as AFP chief was questionable.

The declarations of Aquino apparently prompted Bangit to choose early retirement.

“I’m bowing out of the service for good, not for anything else. I don’t even call it a sacrifice because I know that what I’m going to do is the right thing to do,” Bangit said of his decision to retire early.

“I really have no regrets. In the military, we have no title and we can go anytime. It depends on the decision of our superiors... But to tell you the truth, I am sad. Sayang yung 36 years that I served in the military service,” he said.

President Arroyo yesterday approved the retirement of Bangit and appointed Ochoa as acting AFP chief until after the new president takes over on June 30.

Aquino would then have the choice of retaining Ochoa and formally nominating him as AFP chief.

But sources revealed Aquino is likely to appoint David as the next AFP chief.

In a gathering of former officers of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), Aquino even addressed David as the next AFP chief.

“Congratulations, the next AFP chief,” Aquino reportedly told David during the gathering. David served as PSG chief during the term of Aquino’s mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino.

Ochoa, on the other hand, also served as PSG chief of operations during the Aquino administration.

Ochoa, then an Army major, was among the most trusted men tasked by then PSG commander Voltaire Gazmin to secure Mrs. Aquino.

Ochoa also held various positions at the AFP, earning the approval of the Board of Generals who nominated him as acting AFP chief.

Bangit, for his part, expressed confidence that with the AFP under Ochoa, there would be a smooth transfer of power from Mrs. Arroyo to Aquino.

After his retirement today, Bangit said he would have to look for a job.

“I do not have plans yet, maybe I will look for a job. We also have to earn income,” he said.

Bangit said he is not interested in politics but vowed to help the AFP and the country in his capacity as a private citizen. - With Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado