AFP to have new chief on January 4

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will have a new commander on Saturday when Gen. Noel Clement relinquishes the top military post to his still unnamed successor after only three months on the job.

Clement, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1985, assumed command of the AFP last September and will reach the military’s mandatory retirement age of 56 on Sunday.

In a media advisory, the AFP Public Affairs Office said the AFP Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Camp Aguinaldo grandstand in Quezon City with President Duterte as presiding officer.

Unlike his predecessor, retired Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., whose three-month term as AFP chief was extended by Duterte for another six months post retirement, Clement is not getting any extension, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

However, of all the retired AFP chiefs that served under the Duterte administration, Madrigal is the only one who has yet to get any government position.

The rest – starting from retired AFP chiefs Gen. Ricardo Visaya, Eduardo Año, Rey Leonardo Guerrero and Carlito Galvez – have been appointed by Duterte to key government posts.

Visaya is now heading the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), Año is secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Guerrero is Bureau of Customs commissioner and Galvez the presidential adviser on the peace process.

As of yesterday, Camp Aguinaldo insiders said the Palace has yet to communicate with the top defense and AFP leaderships regarding the next AFP chief.

Top contenders include Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, Lt. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., commander of the Davao-based Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom); and Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Zamboanga City-based Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

Except for Sobejana, a member of PMA Class of 1987, both Gapay and Santos belong to Class 1986.

“None so far. We are still awaiting an official communication from the Palace,” sources said.  

Duterte also explained why he chose to raise the salaries and benefits of soldiers and policemen first before taking care of the benefits for public school teachers.

In a speech in Digos City on Monday, the President noted the sacrifices of members of the uniformed services in protecting the country from criminal elements as well as in disaster and relief efforts during calamities.

“I have been hearing a lot of complaints about bakit inuna ‘yung suweldo ng military pati pulis, doblado. Kasi ‘yung sa – sa mga maestra hindi pa. You know, this country is a troubled land. I need soldiers and policemen who are not afraid to die,” Duterte said.

The President had also ordered the construction of decent housing units for the police and the military since he assumed office in 2016.

Since they are at the forefront of the government’s campaign against drugs and terrorism, Duterte said he deems it fit to ensure that the soldiers and cops are taken care of. Their sacrifices cannot be undermined, the Chief Executive said.

“And when there is trouble I send them there and say fight and die if you must. Ang sundalo kasi ‘pag lumabas ng kampo (When a soldier leaves camp), chances are, there’s an encounter, kung siya ‘yung casualty for the day, dalawa, tatlo. Tayo, lumabas ng bahay (When we leave our house), chances are we can go anywhere and go back all right. Iyong mga sundalo wala ‘yan (That’s not true for soldiers),” he explained.

Duterte appealed for understanding from academicians but he also assured the public that the teachers would not be left behind nor their needs neglected. With Christina Mendez