Air Force general named military's third highest official

MANILA, Philippines - After failing to bag the top Philippine Air Force (PAF) post, a senior Air Force officer was named number three man in the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The designation of Air Force Maj. Gen. Gregorio Macapagal as deputy chief of staff (DCS), the number three post in the AFP, finally fills a key military post left vacant by Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara following his designation as commander of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) early last month.

A member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Mapitagan Class of 1980, Macapagal was a strong contender to replace Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, who retired last January.

The top Air Force post, however, went to Maj. Gen. Catalino de la Cruz, also a mistah of Macapagal.

With his designation as AFP-DCS, Macapagal is leaving his post as commander of the PAF’s Education and Training Command, with Brig. Gen. Edgardo Samonte replacing him.

Samonte, currently the chief of Air Staff, will be replaced by Brig. Gen. Raul Dimatatac, the current 506th Air Base Wing.

As an Air Force officer, Macapagal commanded the PAF 410th Maintenance Wing and was also deputy commander of the 3rd Air Division.

“The deputy chief of staff, the AFP’s third highest post, following the vice chief of staff at second and the chief of staff at first, requires outstanding management and administrative acumen,” AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said.

Burgos said Macapagal, who finished various military and civilian schoolings, including a Masters in Business Administration from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Masters in Defense Studies from King’s College in London, fits the job as the number three man in the military leadership.

Macapagal’s new assignment has triggered a major revamp in the PAF leadership as well as in other key military units.

Col. Rene Santos, the incumbent deputy commander of the National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM), will be taking over Dimatatac’s post as 506th Air Base Wing commander.

Burgos said Santos is passing his post as NCRCOM deputy commander to Col. Manuel Ramiro, the current deputy commander of the National Development Support Command.

Col. Bobby Calleja, the current Inspector General of the 2nd Infantry Division, is also assuming command of the 203rd Infantry Brigade based in Southern Tagalog.

NCRCOM’s chief of staff Col. Vic Castro will then assume as commander of 702nd Infantry Brigade based in Central Luzon, while Col. Rolando Malinao will now command the Samar-based 803rd infantry brigade, after serving as its deputy under Col. Oscar Lopez.

Lopez, on the other hand, was reassigned as chief of the AFP Management and Fiscal Office at Camp Aguinaldo.

Col. Ernesto Cimatu will assume as chief of the AFP Chaplain Service following his stint as chief air force chaplain. Cimatu replaces Brig. Gen. Rosalindo Acacio Jr. who recently retired.

“In line with your new positions, make use of your experiences and remain dedicated in building a more professional, effective and accountable military organization. Filipinos deserve and expect an outstanding service from each one of us. Let us give them what they expect with full determination and commitment for excellence,” AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa reminded the newly designated senior officers.