Army honors outgoing AFP chief with testimonial parade

MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Benjmain Madrigal Jr. will be honored with a testimonial parade and review by the Philippine Army, his mother unit.

Madrigal is bowing out of the service on Sept. 28 upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of 56. He will be replaced by the outgoing Cebu-based Central Command head, Lt. Gen. Noel Clement.

Madrigal and Clement both belong to the Philippine Military Academy “Sandiwa” Class of 1985. The command turn-over is scheduled on Sept. 24, or four days ahead of Madrigal’s birthday.

While members of the uniformed services welcomed President Duterte’s designation of Clement as Madrigal’s replacement, this is now being questioned by various groups for Clement’s reported involvement in the abduction and disappearance of militant-farmer Jonas Burgos, son of late newspaper publisher Jose Burgos Jr., in late April of 2017 in Quezon City.

The young Burgos was last seen being dragged outside a restaurant, located inside a mall along Commonwealth Avenue with two women companions, by unidentified men who shoved him into a waiting get-away van.

At the time of his abduction, the missing Burgos was reportedly planning a huge Labor Day rally of Central Luzon-based farmers in Manila.

Probers would later trace the license plates attached to the getaway vehicle used in the abduction to the junkyard located inside the compound of the 56th Infantry Battalion, an Army unit then under the command of Clement.

“That’s a very old issue and I will not honor them by answering that. So, if they want that to be an issue, that’s their problem. But first they must prove if there’s truth to that. But I will not explain to them,” said Clement.

In his entire military career, Clement said he has been faithful in his service to the country and people.

Editha Burgos, mother of Jonas, initially tagged agents of the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP) as being behind her son’s abduction and disappearance.

Then ISAFP chief, retired AFP chief the late Gen. Delfin Bangit, denied ISAFP involvement in the abduction and promised to help Mrs. Burgos find her missing son.

Since he was last seen in 2017, the young Burgos has yet to be found.

As the investigation progressed, Clement was subsequently cleared of the charges filed against him for insufficiency of evidence.

For Madrigal, the Army’s military honor accorded to him Friday was in recognition of his illustrious career and selfless service to the nation.

“The Philippine Army honors the invaluable service of its retiring officers who have dedicated their entire lives to serve the people. The testimonial review is a simple gesture when compared to all the sacrifices and hard work they have given in order to achieve the mission of the Army and the AFP as a whole, to bring peace and security in our communities,” said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala.