Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda is acting AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda was named the acting chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday as Gen. Hernando Iriberri bowed out of service.

 

Miranda, who was AFP vice chief of staff since March, automatically assumed the highest position in the military with the appointment ban due to the election season.

 

Iriberri, who is 56-year-old, has reached the mandatory age for retirement.

Miranda served as the 26th Commander of the Northern Luzon Command in August 2015.

 

He got commando training in the United Kingdom and Singapore and is a scout ranger, a paratrooper, and infantry and intelligence officer.

 

He holds a master's degree in national security administration and in business administration.

 

Miranda is also a recipient of The Distinguished Conduct Star, four Distinguished Service Stars, four Gold Cross Medals, and numerous other badges and awards from both military organizations and civilian institutions.

 

He belongs to the Philippine Military Academy’s “Matikas” Class of 1983 along with Iriberri.

President Benigno Aquino III lauded Iriberri during his speech for the AFP Change of Command ceremony at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo.

 

“Sa panahong nakatrabaho natin siya, nakita natin ang propesyunalismo, husay, at matinding dedikasyong tatak ng sundalong Pilipino,” Aquino said.

 

He mentioned that it was during Iriberri's term as AFP chief that high-value targets like Moroccan bomb expert Mohammad Khattab were killed.

 

Meanwhile, Aquino also his confidence in Miranda. 

 

"[T]iwala pa rin tayo na ang papalit kay Gen. Iriberri ay maipagpapatuloy ang maganda niyang nasimulan sa nalalabing mga buwan ng ating termino. Magiging Acting Chief of Staff si Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, na kilala sa pagiging mapanuri at maparaan bilang strategist at sundalo,” he said.