P-Noy to lead Army turnover rites on Friday

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino will lead turnover rites to install Maj. Gen. Arturo Ortiz as the 53rd Army commander tomorrow.

A medal of valor awardee, Ortiz will replace Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, who has been named Armed Forces vice chief of staff.

Ortiz graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1979.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said the change of command ceremonies will be held at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig at 8:30 a.m.

“This is one of few times when the Commander-in-Chief presides over turnover rites of a major service commander,” he said.

Army spokesman Maj. Ronald Alcudia said the President has not led the installation of a major service commander in recent memory.

“The tradition is the (secretary of national defense) is the presiding officer,” he said.

“What happened, I guess, is the President jibed his traditional first visit with the turnover ceremony.”

Mabanta said he cannot say if this is the first time a president would install a major service commander.

“That means the Commander-in-Chief gives premium to attending the ceremonies for the largest service in the military,” he said.

The Army turnover rites might set a precedent for Mr. Aquino to attend the change-in-command ceremonies of other major services, Mabanta said.

Ortiz served as commander of the Special Operations Command before he was named Army commanding general. 

Speaking to reporters, Mabanta said the major changes were largely a result of the retirement Monday of former vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa. – Alexis Romero, Jaime Laude, James Mananghaya